Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Radford
Bucknell Volleyball Nipped by Radford, 3-2
9/14/2007 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Junior Emilie Hardinge (Darien, Conn./Darien) posted career highs in kills and digs, however, the Bucknell volleyball team came up just short of victory in its home opener, suffering a 3-2 setback to Radford on Friday evening at the Bucknell Invitational. The Bison are now 5-6 on the year, while the Highlanders move to 3-9.
After falling behind 2-0, to start the match, the Orange and Blue rallied for four straight points and led from that moment forward to take game one, 30-25.
Radford began game two with a 4-1 advantage and never relinquished control, despite the Bison managing to close the gap to one on several occasions. The Highlanders collected a 30-22 win in the second frame, hitting .532 as a squad with 20 kills and just three errors in 32 attempts.
With the score tied at 13 in game three, Radford went on a 7-1 run to pull ahead, 20-14. The Bison rallied to come within a point at 24-23, but the Highlanders outscored Bucknell, 6-2, the rest of the way to record a 30-25 win.
The teams traded point-for-point for the majority of game four. After trailing by one at 19-18, the Bison evened the score and broke out for a 12-2 run, which included seven kills by Hardinge, forcing a game five with a 30-21 decision.
Both squads were evenly matched in game five. Bucknell held a 7-6 advantage, but Radford managed to record three straight points and jump ahead, 9-7 after two kills and a Bison attack error. With the teams in a 13-13 deadlock, Kiley Kent served up two aces to ice the game, 15-13, for the Highlanders and seal the match victory.
Hardinge led Bucknell in both kills and digs with totals of 27 and 16, respectively, for a double-double and hit .404 (27-6-52). Senior Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) followed with 19 kills and eight digs, while freshman Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs and classmate Heidi Kamp (Springfield, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) added 10 kills and four blocks (2-2). Freshman Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) compiled 35 assists and eight digs and Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) chipped in with 34 assists and nine digs. Freshman Jocelyn VanOpdorp (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville) contributed nine digs, as well.
For Radford, Maggie Wagner and Lindsey Poole paced the squad with 13 kills apiece. Wagner completed her double-double with a team-high 14 digs. Alexis Miller and Jessica Sullivan registered 10 kills each, Sullivan hitting .529 with only one error in 17 attempts. Setter Josie Hanners finished with 50 assists and nine digs and libero Lauren Clary tallied 11 digs.
The Bison will continue play in the Bucknell Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 15, with two matches, facing Saint Francis (Pa.) at 12 p.m. and Stony Brook at 4:30 p.m.
