Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Army
Bucknell Volleyball Challenges Army But Falls 3-1
9/25/2009 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 25, 2009
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LEWISBURG, Pa. - Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) shared the team lead with eight kills and set a career high with nine blocks, but Bucknell volleyball (4-9, 0-1) could not overcome a stronger Army (13-3, 1-0) team, falling 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 24-26, 25-15) at Davis Gym on Friday night. The loss gave the Bison their third straight despite the high-energy atmosphere at the Patriot League opener.
Each of the sets were closer than the scores showed as Bucknell had its opportunities throughout the match. The opening set remained close through the first half, and the Bison even got within a single point at 13-12 following a kill by Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon). From that point on, however, Army began to pull away and at 16-12, Bucknell was forced to call a timeout.
The Black Knights continued to stretch its advantage. Kills by Jackson, Kamp and Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) sprinkled throughout the final points did little to slow Army down. A block by Jackie Landes (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Wildwood School) and Jackson for 23-18 got Bucknell another service opportunity, that ended with an error to give Army set point.
The Black Knights did not waste their chance, ending the set at 25-18 with a kill by Rachel Dunn.
Set number two played out almost identically with the Bison and the Black Knights staying neck and neck through the first half of action. Jackson claimed her fourth kill of the night to tie the set at nine, making it look like the Bison might be able to take the set off their opponents.
Despite being tantalizingly close, Bucknell never captured the lead and Army again made the necessary late push to win the second. The Black Knights won 11 of the final 15 points, including two kills from Ariana Mankus and a service ace to close out the set at 25-18.
The third set made things interesting for both teams. Bucknell blew out of the gates and quickly took an 8-3 lead following a kill by Kyleigh McArhren (Napa, Calif./Justin-Siena), assisted by Allison Gittings (Dayton, Md./Glenelg). The Bison then maintained their five-point advantage and even increased it to six on two occasions after McAhren posted another kill and later teamed with Kamp for a block assist.
The intensity in Davis Gym had been steadily growing, and Army was beginning to creep back into the set. The Black Knights got a kill to come within one point as late as 22-21, but Bucknell took set point at 24-21 after another McAhren kill. The lead was gone in a flash, however, and Army tied the set at 24 with its own block assist. Bucknell claimed the final two points, and won its first and only set of the night on a kill by Kebah Edoho (Odenton, Md./Arundel) for a score of 26-24.
The fourth set opened looking like Bucknell had expended too much energy to take the third, and the Bison fell behind quickly. They rebounded just as quickly, however, and tied the set three times in the first half of play.
Jackson registered a kill for 12-12 giving Bucknell its last look of the night. Army took a final hold of the match and rattled off seven of the last eight points, giving them their first Patriot League win of the season.
Joining Jackson for the Bison's kills lead was Segal, who also finished eight on the night. McAhren and Kamp chipped in seven kills of their own. Assisting on many of those scores was Gittings, who finished the night with 24 helpers. Emily Sawanobori (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) and Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) each had double-digit digs, registering 18 and 10 respectively.
The Bison out-blocked the Black Knights, 11-8. Army still won on the attack front, however, claiming a .162 hitting percentage, compared to .043 for the Bison. Bucknell head coach Cindy Opalski saw that as the key to the match's outcome.
"The difference in the match was our inability to attack the block," said Opalski. "We got some great energy and great contribution from some people off our bench, but our hitting needs to improve dramatically if we are going to contend for a Patriot League championship."
Army's Amanda Rowell led all players with 12 kills, followed closely by Dunn and Francine Vasquez with 11 apiece. Maureen Bannon finished with 41 assists, and four Black Knights earned double-figure digs.
Bucknell is back in action tomorrow for its next league matchup. The contest with Holy Cross is slated for a 5 p.m. start in Davis Gym. Live stats on GameTracker will be available on BucknellBison.com.
