Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Volleyball Turned Away 3-0 at Lehigh
11/6/2009 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 6, 2009
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bucknell volleyball out-blocked Lehigh 15-4, but a sluggish offense hurt the Bison (8-15, 4-7) as they fell to the Mountain Hawks (13-13, 6-5) in straight sets in Bethlehem, Pa., on Friday night. Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) led the defensive effort with seven total blocks.
Bucknell's 15 total blocks tied a season high. The Bison also posted 15 in the second game of the season against St. Francis (N.Y.). The team's eight blocks solos, however, was a new best this fall. Jackson contributed to that high in a major way. Her three block solos were a personal best.
The Bison's attack game was what hurt them in the long run. Both teams hit well in the first set with Lehigh recording a .359 attack percentage and Bucknell coming in at .323. Bucknell fell off after that, hitting just .061 with eight kills in the second set and .000 with seven kills in the third.
Despite the low attack percentage, Bucknell was never really out of contention during the match. The Bison led as late as 18-17 in the first set. It was Lehigh that was able to close out the frame, however, as the home team took nine of the final 12 points. That stretch included a trio of kills from the Mountain Hawks' Chelsea Sheridan and two more from Angelika Kopacz.
Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) played a role in all of Bucknell's points down the final stretch. The junior recorded two kills and teamed with Jackson for a block. In the end, however, it was Lehigh with the 25-21 win.
Bucknell fell behind in a hurry in the second set. The Orange and Blue held a 5-4 lead after a kill by Jackie Landes (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Wildwood School), but Lehigh jumped out to 10-5 with the help of four consecutive points from Taylor Poole.
Jackson earned one of her block solos to slow the Mountain Hawks' run and, although the Bison went down by six points at 12-6, they clawed their way back to tie the set at 14 on an ace from Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon). Segal also tied the set at 16 apiece, but the momentum would not stay with Bucknell. The Bison committed three straight errors, and Lehigh was able to stay just out of reach until the end at 25-21.
The third set started much the same way as the second with Bucknell falling behind by a sizeable margin early before mounting a comeback. Jackson opened play with a kill before Lehigh went ahead 5-1. That eventually improved to 9-2, but it did not last. Again, Kamp tied the set at 14 all with a kill. The Bison then took their first lead of the set on the next point as Kamp and Kebah Edoho (Arundel, Md./Odenton) earned the block assist.
Serving was key in the next few points as Bucknell gave Lehigh another look by serving an error. The Mountain Hawks gave it right back with their own service error, however, and Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) recorded an ace for 17-15.
The remainder of the set went back and forth with a little bit of everything. Both teams peppered play with kills, service and attack errors and bad sets, keeping the score tight. Allison Gittings (Dayton, Md./Glenelg) recorded her first career block solo to knot it up at 21. The Bison could get no closer as Lehigh recorded three kills on the final four points, giving it the 25-21 victory for the third straight set.
Segal and Kamp tied for the team high in kills with seven apiece to lead the offense. Kamp also joined Jackson with a strong blocking performance, collecting five total blocks, including two block solos. Gittings led all players with 21 assists.
Three Mountain Hawks shared the match high in kills. Mo McReynolds, Poole and Kopacz each finished with 10. Emma Melendez registered 22 digs, making her the only player in double figures in the category.
Bucknell will be back in action tomorrow. The team will try to put an end to its four-match losing streak at Lafayette. The match in Easton, Pa., is slated for a 4 p.m. start. Live statistics on GameTracker will be available at goleopards.com.
