Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
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Bucknell Volleyball Closes Out Season with 3-1 Loss to American
11/14/2009 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 14, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) recorded a match-high 12 kills, but Bucknell volleyball was unable to end its season on a high note, falling 3-1 (26-24, 15-25, 25-17, 25-18) to American in Davis Gym on Saturday night. The Bison close out 2009 at 8-18 overall and 4-10 in the Patriot League.
Trying to recover from a sweep a night ago at the hands of Navy, Bucknell was looking for a solid start against American. It got that as it took a three-point lead following four consecutive kills for 6-3. A Lindsay Regruto (Atlanta, Ga./Marist School) service ace at 11-6 got the advantage to five, but the Bison's largest lead of the set was not safe. American (17-11, 11-3) chipped away at the score until, little by little, the frame was tied at 14.
Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) eventually put the Bison back up by five at 20-15, but history repeated itself with the Eagles working their way back in the contest. American took 12 of the last 16 points to go up one set to none.
After a close but disappointing 26-24 result in the first set, Bucknell finally got things going its way in the second. The Bison jumped out to a quick seven-point lead at 12-5 with the help from several players. Katie Baumgarten (South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena), Segal and Kamp all had a pair of kills during that stretch, and Allison Gittings (Dayton, Md./Glenelg) topped it off with a service ace. A block assist by Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) and Lindsay Smith (Boulder, Colo./Monarch) kept the lead at eight, and another by Kamp and Baumgarten improved it to nine points at 18-9.
A timeout by American did little to slow Bucknell's momentum and Jackson capped off the 25-15 second-set win with a kill.
Buckenll posted its best hitting percentage during that set at .423. American came in at .107.
Undeterred, American, which was fighting for the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, came back in the third set with much more success. The Eagles recorded their best hitting percentage of the night at .348 with the help of an early lead. Bucknell stayed within striking distance through the first half of the set, but poor hitting spelled disaster in the end. American took a 10-7 lead after a kill from Magdalena Tekiel and, following a 16-8 run, closed out the set at 25-17.
The fourth and final set was much the same as Bucknell stayed close in the early goings. Segal's kill brought the Bison to within one at 9-8, and Regruto tied the set at 15 with two consecutive service aces. Tekiel reclaimed the lead with a kill on the next point, however and American finished off the regular season with a 10-3 streak for a 25-18 fourth-set victory.
In addition to her match-best 12 digs, Segal also outdid all other players with 15 digs. Kamp had nine digs and a match-high six blocks. Gittings and Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) split the setting duties, with Gittings earning 19 assists and Rodriguez adding 14.
Tying Segal with 12 kills was Tekiel. Angelina Waterman also finished in double figures with 10 kills. Krysta Cicala led all players with 41 assists.
Despite the loss, head coach Cindy Opalski was pleased with the fight her team showed and optimistic about the future.
"I was really proud of our competitive spirit throughout the entire match tonight. There is great determination and enthusiasm in the hearts of our underclassmen," said Opalski. "The potential to challenge for a championship next year is evident in the way our young people competed tonight. And as we say goodbye to two terrific seniors, we will turn to leadership of our three juniors to take us back to a Patriot League Championship in 2010."
