Bucknell University
Cal State Fullerton
Bucknell Volleyball Opens Season with Straight-Sets Loss to Cal State Fullerton
8/27/2010 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 27, 2010
LOS ANGELES - Bucknell volleyball found themselves trailing early and was never able to recover in its season opener against Cal State Fullerton, falling 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-15) in its first match of the Trojan Invitational in Los Angeles on Friday night. Freshman Morgan Clark (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley) led the Bison (0-1) with four kills and two blocks in her college debut.
Bucknell was slow out of the gates, finding itself in a 12-3 hole to open the first set. A timeout helped the Bison regroup briefly as Clark registered a block solo out of the stoppage. A series of errors from the Titans (1-0) and a kill from Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) brought the lead down to 14-8. Kamp and Anne Ellenberger (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon Honors) teamed up for a block to make it 14-9 and force Cal State Fullerton into a timeout of their own.
The Bison were unable to cut the advantage to any less than five points throughout the set, however, and Bucknell fell 25-16.
Cal State Fullerton maintained its momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 9-1 lead after an ace from Brenna Cygan. Although Bucknell put up two consecutive points off an Titans service error and a kill from Katie Baumgarten (South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena). A combination of Bison errors and strong play from Erin Saddler and Kayla Neto held Bucknell at bay, however. Saddler and Neto teamed up for seven of their team's 12 kills in the set, keeping the Titans in control.
Much like in the first set, Cal State Fullerton closed out play in strong fashion, limiting Bucknell's point production late. The Bison never got closer than eight points and ultimately dropped the second set 25-11.
Saddler finished the night with a match-high 16 kills, with Neto posting eight.
Bucknell put up a fight in the third, but difficultly closing again proved to be a problem. Kyleigh McAhren (Napa, Calif./Justin-Siena) re-opened play with a kill at 1-0 and gave the Bison their lone lead of the night. Although Saddler recorded back-to-back kills for a 3-1 lead in favor of the Titans, Bucknell quickly tied it up. Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) and Jessica Serrato (Millbrae, Calif./Saint Ignatius College Prep) earned a block assist for 3-3, and Serrato tallied a kill for 4-4.
Cal State Fullerton tried to pull away over the next few points, but Bucknell stayed within striking distance. Serrato had two more kills down the stretch, bringing her total to three on night. Despite their determined play, the Bison were unable to clear that final hurdle. After Jackson and McAhren teamed up for a block at 13-10, Cal State Fullerton went on a 12-5 run to end the match. Only late kills from Clark and Kristin Titley (Coral Gables, Fla./Palmer Trinity School) put a dent in the score, as Bucknell dropped the final 25-15.
Joining Clark in the leaders column was Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) with seven assists. Kat Tauscher (Washington, D.C./National Cathedral School) set a career high with six assists as well. Emily Sawanobori (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) led all players with 11 digs. Clark, Kamp and Jackson tied for the team high in blocks with two apiece.
Bucknell struggled on the attack, hitting -.057 on the night compared to .293 for Cal State Fullerton. The Titans also finished with eight aces, while the Bison were unable to put a notch in the serving category.
Bucknell will be back in action with two matches tomorrow, starting at 1 p.m. ET against the 10th-ranked team in the country in USC. The Bison will then face Loyola Marymount at 8 p.m. ET.
