Bucknell University
Lehigh
Five-Setter Against Lehigh Slips Away from Bucknell Volleyball
11/5/2010 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 5, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Kyleigh McAhren (Napa, Calif./Justin-Siena) and Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) each posted double-digit kills, and Kristen Titley (Coral Gables, Fla./Palmer Trinity School) added a career-high five aces, but Bucknell volleyball could not avoid its first five-set loss of the season, falling to Lehigh (17-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-18, 15-8) Friday night at Davis Gym. The loss puts the Bison (8-15, 6-5) in a fourth-place tie with the Mountain Hawks (12-11, 6-5) in the Patriot League standings, putting them in a battle for one of the remaining two tournament berths.
Tonight's match had major implications for Bucknell's postseason hopes as it attempts to stay among the top four in the Patriot League in order to qualify for the league's tournament later this month. The Bison looked as if they were going to put themselves in position to extend their season after a first-set victory against the Mountain Hawks. A 9-1 Bucknell run that included a pair of kills from Titley and a Kat Tauscher (Washington, D.C./National Cathedral School) service ace put the team up by 10 at 15-5.
From that point on, Lehigh just edged out their opponent in scoring, but the lead was too great. Tauscher's second ace of the set gave the Bison 22-14, and McAhren and Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) teamed up for a block in the next point. McAhren struck again on set point, tallying a kill for the 25-17 win.
Lehigh turned the tables on Bucknell in the next set, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. The Bison never fully recovered, although they did pull to within two points on two occasions. McAhren sandwiched a pair of kills around a Titley ace for 9-11. An attack error from Lehigh a few points later made it 13-11, but Bucknell never got any closer. The Mountain Hawks eventually closed out the set with back-to-back kills from Taylor Poole and Jessica Kudirka, 25-17.
Kamp proved to be a powerful force in starting a comeback for the Bison in the third set. With the teams neck-and-neck, the Bucknell senior recorded four of five points, taking her team from trailing 6-5 to a 9-7 lead. Kamp's three kills during that stretch brought her total at that point to seven, while a block assist with McAhren capped off the mini-run.
The effort put Bucknell in front for good in the set. The Bison received kills from four different players and aces from three more down the stretch so that not even a 5-0 run from the Mountain Hawks at the end of the frame could keep them from the win. Just as in the first set, McAhren shut down play with a kill, setting the score at 25-20.
Momentum was never again in Bucknell's favor after the third. The Bison struggled with consistency, sending them to a five-set loss for the first time this season. Entering the contest, the Orange and Blue were 4-0 in contests that went the distance.
Despite the outcome, Bucknell benefited from some strong defense from Jackson. The sophomore recorded three blocks, including two solos, in the fourth set. Jackson ended the night with a match-best six rejections. McAhren also kept up her production in the fourth, finishing with three kills and two service aces.
Bucknell got off on the wrong foot in the fifth and fell behind a hurry. Lehigh's Paige Kruse opened the frame at the service line and had luck on her side. Several of her serves clipped the net cord, making it difficult for the Bison to get their offense started efficiently. Behind Kruse's serving, the Mountain Hawks took a 6-0 lead.
Bucknell matched Lehigh nearly point for point after that, but it was too late. The Bison lost 15-8 despite three kills, an ace and a block from McAhren.
McAhren's totals at the end of the night read 13 kills, four blocks and three aces. Kamp finished with 10 kills and three blocks, while Titley just missed the double-figure kills club. The freshman tallied nine kills to go along with her five aces and eight digs.
Bucknell's 13 aces as a team were season-high.
Lehigh was led offensively by Poole and Courtney McCutchan. The duo had 14 kills apiece, while McCutchan added 20 digs. Angelika Kopacz also had 12 kills, and Kruse finished with 10. Kudirka registered 50 assists.
Bucknell will be back on the court tomorrow when it hosts Lafayette at 5 p.m. in Davis Gym. Live stats on GameTracker will be available at BucknellBison.com.
