Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy
Bucknell Drops 3-0 Decision to Navy
10/5/2007 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 5, 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Senior Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) totaled 18 kills and hit .395, with 11 digs to complete a double-double, but it was not enough as the Bucknell volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Navy on Friday. The loss leaves the Bison at 8-2 on the season, 2-2 in the Patriot League, while the Mids improve to 12-7, 2-2 in league contests.
To open up, the Orange and Blue fell behind, 4-0, but recovered to take an 11-8 lead in the first set. However, Navy fought back with seven-straight points, to pull in front, 16-11. The Mids then extended their run to 14-2 and were within a point of victory at 29-22, when Bucknell rallied to close the gap to two at 29-27. A Bison attack error halted the comeback, though, as Navy eventually took game one, 30-27.
The Mids maintained control throughout the second frame, never trailing by more than one point and holding Bucknell to a .115 hitting percentage on the way to a 30-20 victory.
Then in game three, the Bison raced out to a 13-7 advantage, prompting a timeout by Navy. After the brief rest, the Mids responded with three straight points and slowly crept back to within striking distance, eventually tying the score at 22. Going in front, 23-22 on the next point, Navy preserved its lead the rest of the way, clinching the match with a 30-28 decision.
Behind Henderson, who now has 1268 career kills, passing Shannon Walker for second in the Bucknell record book in that category, freshman Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) tallied eight kills. Kelsey Lisle (Marriottsville, Md./Seton Keough) recorded seven kills and hit .357 (7-2-14), while sophomore Jennifer Rupp (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) contributed 11 digs and junior Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) registered 31 assists.
For the Mids, three players finished with double-digit kill totals as Rachel Dougherty led the way with 16 and hit .344 (16-5-32), Jessie Sims had 13 and four service aces and Alexa Gibbs hit .600 with 10 kills (10-1-15). Dougherty and setter Marissa Watson both posted team highs of seven digs, while Watson also dished 38 assists.
"I think to Navy's credit, the team played a really aggressive match," said Bucknell head coach Cindy Opalski. "They pinned us to the wall and we didn't respond in a positive manner. There were things we did throughout the course of the match that were good, but we made too many unforced errors and our defensive effort needs to improve if we are going to get back on track."
The Bison will close out their weekend road trip tomorrow, Oct. 6, with a match at American, beginning at 4 p.m.
