Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Niagara
Bucknell Volleyball Rolls to 3-0 Win Over Niagara
9/8/2007 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2007
ITHACA, N.Y. - Junior Emilie Hardinge (Darien, Conn./Darien) hit a career-best .462 and totaled 16 kills, helping the Bucknell volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Niagara on Saturday morning at the Cornell Invitational. With the victory, the Bison improve to 5-4 on the year, while the Purple Eagles drop to 2-7.
Bucknell raced out to an 11-5 lead in game one and never trailed after the opening point, on the way to a 30-36 victory, despite Niagara having its most productive game of the match with a .235 attack percentage and 12 kills.
Then in game two, with the score tied at three, the Bison went on a 19-4 run to build a 21-7 advantage. The Orange and Blue rolled to a 30-16 win behind a .379 team hitting percentage, with 15 kills and just four errors on 29 attempts.
The Bison closed out the match with a 30-24 decision in game three after holding the Purple Eagles off late in the frame. With the score tied at 22, Bucknell strung together an 8-2 run to clinch the victory.
In addition to her 16 kills on 26 attempts, Hardinge added a team-high 10 digs for Bucknell to complete her double-double, along with four service aces. Senior Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) followed with 13 kills, hit .321 (13-4-28) and registered seven digs. Freshman Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) posted her best offensive performance of her collegiate career thus far, contributing 10 kills with no errors on 17 attacks for a .588 hitting percentage and also added six digs. Junior Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) aided the offense with 37 assists and chipped in defensively with seven digs. Freshman Jocelyn VanOpdorp (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville) totaled six digs to round out the Bison leaders.
Raelean Rush was the lone Niagara player to reach double figures in kills, finishing with 11 and two errors on 26 attempts for a .346 hitting percentage. Maurin Lawrence followed with nine kills, Mallory Boron recorded 23 assists and Sara Mancini paced the Purple Eagles with seven digs.
"I think this was the most solid hitting performance we've had thus far this season, said Bucknell head coach Cindy Opalski. "Good passing was the difference in the match. We improved our serve receive from yesterday and minimized our reception errors."
The Bison will close out their weekend at the Cornell Invitational later on this evening with a match against Siena at 5 p.m.
