Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Providence
Bucknell Volleyball Slips 3-1 to Providence
9/6/2009 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2009
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Bucknell volleyball pushed Providence to four tight sets at the Marist Volley in the Valley on Sunday afternoon but was unable to get the final momentum it needed, falling 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-18, 27-25). Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) and Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) were named to the All-Tournament Team at the close of competition.
Bucknell (3-3) struggled to get off the ground in the beginning of each set. Although the Bison won the second set, the round was no different. Providence (3-4) capped off a 10-5 advantage with a block assist, making it look as if its first-set win would continue. Bucknell went on a 6-1 run to work its way back in the contest, however, and used kills from Segal and Kebah Edoho (Odenton, Md./Arundel) to tie it at 11 all.
Providence continued to try to maintain control, and despite a kill by Kyleigh McAhren (Napa, Calif./Justin-Siena) to even the score at 13, the Friars soon regained a four-point advantage.
Not to be deterred, Bucknell took its first lead late in the game. Segal registered back-to-back kills to put her team up 21-20. Providence continued to threaten, but Bucknell held on to the end. Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) had her hand in each of the final two points, giving the Bison the set win with a kill and a block assist with Anne Ellenberger (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon Honors).
The opening set was closely contended through early play, although Bucknell had difficulty maintaining a significant lead. Providence committed an error to put the Bison up 6-5, and a kill by Segal evened the score at seven a few points later. Bucknell could not claim another lead from that point on although it came close at 15-14 following a block assist by Jackson and Edoho.
Jackie Landes (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Wildwood School) earned a kill for 23-21, but Bucknell never got any closer than two, falling in the first set, 25-21.
Despite the competitive opening sets, Bucknell stumbled in the third. Strong hitting in the early points gave Bucknell a 10-9 lead, and a kill by Jackson tied the set at 12 apiece. Providence answered with a 13-6 run, successfully giving the Friars the most lopsided victory of the match at 25-18.
The letdown proved to last only a moment, however, as Bucknell made the fourth set the closest yet. McAhren, Kamp and Lindsay Smith (Boulder, Colo./Monarch) each recorded kills, and Emily Sawanobori (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) earned a service ace to give the Bison a quick 5-2 lead.
The advantage was eventually stretched out to five points, as Segal's kill set the score at 12-7. Providence reeled in the Bison at the halfway point of the set with both teams swapping leads and timeouts. The Bison were within points of forcing a fifth set as Kamp, Jackson and Segal notched four consecutive points and put the set within reach at 23-21.
A series of kills by the Friars and Bison errors closed the door on those hopes, however, and Providence walked away the winner, 27-25.
Despite finishing on the losing side of the scoreboard, Bucknell edged Providence in team kills, 58-53, and digs, 70-68. The Friars held a narrow advantage in other areas, however, winning in blocks, 7-4, and service aces, 8-4.
Segal closed the match just one kill shy of her career high with 19. She finished the weekend with 38 kills (3.45/set) and 16 digs (1.45/set) to earn her spot on the All-Tournament Team. Jackson posted a career-best 10 kills, one ahead of Kamp's nine. Kamp completed the invitational with 25 total kills (2.27/set) and seven blocks (.64/set) to round out Bucknell's selections to the All-Tournament Team.
Allison Gittings (Dayton, Md./Glenelg) had a team-high 38 assists, while Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Sawanobori tied with 17 digs.
Providence's Lauren Fletcher led the Friars with 19 kills, and Carly Morrison recorded 45 assists.
Bucknell returns to the court for the Akron Invitational, beginning Friday, Sept. 11. The Bison will open with West Virginia at 5 p.m., followed by Akron at 7:30 p.m. The tournament in Akron, Ohio continues on Saturday, Sept. 12 when Bucknell takes on Saint Francis (Pa.) at 2:30 p.m.
