Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Volleyball Stumbles in Lehigh Valley
10/24/2008 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 24, 2008
EASTON, Pa. – After sweeping Navy last weekend, the Bucknell volleyball team's forward momentum came to a screeching halt on Friday in the Kirby Sports Center as it fell 3-0 to Lafayette. Senior Liz Hazuka recorded a season-best 10 kills to lead the Bison (9-15, 4-4) in the category, although the effort did little to slow an aggressive Lafayette (8-14, 3-5) team.
“Lafayette played a great game,” said Bucknell head coach Cindy Opalski. “They were determined, and they played to win. Unfortunately, we played not to lose.”
The Bison never led in the first set as Lafayette opened the match with back-to-back service aces. Freshman Kyleigh McAhren started the Orange and Blue attack with her first kill of the evening and put the score at 4-2 in favor of the Leopards. A kill by sophomore Kaitlin Segal at 5-3 got Bucknell the closest it would come in the first. Sophomore Heidi Kamp and freshman Katie Baumgarten made a final push by combining for a block at 22-18, but Lafayette eventually closed the set easily with a 25-18 score.
Bucknell started to warm up in the second set, leading early at 2-1 off a McAhren kill. After a Bucknell service error on the next point, the visiting team regained the 3-2 advantage on one of Hazuka's many kills on. The Bison appeared to be in control and maintained their lead through much of the set. The Leopards slowly worked their way back to within one, however, forcing the Bison to call a timeout up just 20-19. Lafayette then took three out of the next four points, and Bucknell failed to recover. The Leopards' Cara Mulholland completed the comeback and took the set 25-23 with two consecutive kills.
The final set began with a continuation of Lafayette's hot play as the Leopards ran out to a 7-0 lead. Hazuka's seventh kill of the night stopped Bucknell's skid and started one of the Bison's best turn-arounds of the season. Segal and McAhren combined for back-to-back kills, narrowing the margin to 8-3. Freshman Emily Sawanobori posted one of her two aces in the match to give her team its third straight point. Hazuka followed with a kill of her own, and an ace by Segal put the score at 8-6. Lafayette then committed three straight errors, giving the lead to Bucknell for the first time in the set.
Kamp connected for one of her four kills at 14-13, but a Bucknell service error and a Lafayette service ace put the Bison down again. Refusing to give in easily, senior Sheena Czipri tied the set at 24 apiece with a service ace. She repeated the feat on the next point, giving Bucknell its first set point of the match. Lafayette erased the set point on a kill, but Segal got it right back with her final kill of the night. Although another opportunity presented itself at 27 apiece after a Lafayette attack error, the Bison were unable to close the deal. Lafayette earned the third-set and match victory, 29-27.
Segal finished the contest second on the team in kills and digs. With eight of each, she placed behind Hazuka's 10 kills and Sawanobori's 12 digs. McAhren ended with six kills of her own. Senior Shannon Pitsch contributed to many of those points with 25 assists.
Lafayette's Mulholland led both teams with 16 kills on .557 hitting (16-1-26). Katrina Racibarskas and Kayly Elmer were close behind with 10 kills each. Megan Carter chipped in 35 assists on the night, while Kari Horn had a match-high 15 digs.
Bucknell is back in action on Saturday, Oct. 25 when it takes on Lehigh in Easton, Pa. The match is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
