Bucknell University
Iona
Bucknell Volleyball Claims First Win of Season in Five-Setter vs. Providence
9/4/2010 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell volleyball rebounded from a 3-1 loss to Iona to claim its first win of the season in a thrilling five-set match against Providence in the finale of the Bucknell Invitational Saturday night. Several Bison recorded career highs in the last match of the night at Davis Gym, including Kyleigh McAhren (Napa, Calif./Justin-Siena), who posted a team-best 18 kills, while Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) was named to her second consecutive All-Tournament Team.
Kamp finished the weekend with a team-high 26 kills and 15 total blocks (0-15) while playing in all 12 of the team's sets. The senior also reached a career milestone, moving into fourth place on the Bucknell career block assists list. After just over three years in the Orange and Blue, Kamp has amassed 227 block assists, pushing her past Sarah Groman (2003-06).
McAhren also had a strong finish to her tournament, totaling 18 of her 22 kills against the Friars (1-7). The junior put Bucknell on the board for the first time in the opening set and converted match point to give the Bison (1-5) the early set lead.
It was not easy going for Bucknell, however, despite McAhren's offensive production. The Bison trailed early, and although they eventually knotted up the score at 7-7, they were unable to take a lead until 18-17. A Bucknell service error gave Providence one last look, but it was the Friars' turn to experience a failed comeback. A block from Anne Ellenberger (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon Honors) and a service ace from Emily Sawanobori (Warren, N.J./ Watchung Hills) on back-to-back points put Bucknell up by five at 24-19. After a brief stumble, Bucknell closed out the set 25-22.
Although Bucknell was able to come from behind in the first frame, in the second and third it could not follow suit. Providence's Carly Morrison earned five points on her serve early, and Bucknell found itself in an 11-4 hole. That deficit hovered around seven points for much of the match before the Bison eventually whittled it down to three at 22-19, giving the Friars their smallest lead since 7-4. Bucknell could get no closer, however, as Providence evened the match with a second-set score of 25-21.
Providence appeared to claim momentum for good in the third set as it jumped in front early, and Bucknell never gained control. Sondra Synder put her team ahead 14-5 on her service. Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) finally put a stop to the Bison's skid, allowing Sawanobori to put together a run of her own at the service line. Kamp and Morgan Clark (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley) teamed up for a block assist to make it 14-11, but the Friars ended the set with an 11-3 run. A final of 25-14 put Providence up two sets to one
Bucknell again showed its power to come from behind in the fourth set. A sluggish start put the team down 14-5 before the Bison made their best comeback to date. Bucknell put together a 16-4 run from that point, allowing it to take a 21-18 lead. The stretch included four kills from Baumgarten, three service aces from Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and a block assist from Baumgarten and Kamp to cap things off. With momentum in their favor, the Bison tied the contest yet again with a set score of 25-19.
The Bison looked as if they were going to buck the trend of coming from behind after taking an early but slim lead to start the deciding set. Kamp smashed a kill for Bucknell's first point, and Sawanobori followed with an ace for 2-0. Another Kamp kill made it 3-1..
Momentum swung in Providence's favor after that, and the Friars' soon were ahead 11-7. Their lead stayed around the four-point mark until a Bucknell timeout helped the Bison to turn the corner for a final time. The Bison tallied three straight blocks to tie the set at 13-13, and Baumgarten posted a kill for 14-13, giving Bucknell its first lead since 3-2.
The Friars' Lauren Fletcher tied the set with her 24th kill of the night, but a kill by Ellenberger and a block from Baumgarten sealed the deal.
In addition to McAhren's career-best 18 kills, Morgan Mientus (Chicago, Ill./Saint Ignatius College Prep) had a career-high eight kills. Kat Tauscher (Washington, D.C./National Cathedral School) finished with 17 assists, and Leylin Marroquin (Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch) recorded 15 digs, both of which were personal bests. Kamp added seven blocks to her eight kills, while Baumgarten finished with nine kills and four total blocks. Rodriguez led with 30 assists, while she and Sawanobori each totaled four service aces.
The well-distributed stats for the Bison is evidence of Bucknell's improvement from the beginning of the season.
"After a very challenging start to the season, we seemed to have finally turned the corner," said Opalski. "The developmental aspect of our game will be ongoing, but what we did well this weekend was to learn how to play together as a team."
The win was a nice turnaround after a 3-1 loss to Iona (4-3) in Bucknell's first match of the day. The Bison had the advantage through much of the first set, leading by as many as four points. The Gaels overpowered the Bison down the stretch, however. Sawanobori served an ace for 18-15, but Iona followed with 10-2 run. At 19-18, the Gaels held their first lead since 1-0. They ultimately closed the set with a 25-20 score.
Bucknell found its legs in the second set, which it won 25-23. Kamp opened play with a kill, and the Bison blocking game helped extend the team's lead over the next few points. Tauscher's ace for 7-2 gave Bucknell its biggest lead yet.
Steady all-around play kept the advantage alive, although the Gaels again threatened in the later points. A block by Alicja Pawelec and Colleen Genett put Iona ahead 21-20, but Bucknell regained its lead two points later on a Genett attack error. A series of errors from the Gaels helped to end the frame in the Bison's favor and tie the match at a set apiece.
Bucknell tried to carry its momentum into the third, and it briefly looked as if the Bison would take its first lead of the season. Kamp put the Bison up 3-1 with a trio of kills, and a bock by Jackson and Kebah Edoho (Odenton, Md./Arundel) set the score at 7-3.
Later, Iona pulled ahead at 10-9, giving it its first lead of the set. Bucknell never recovered and fell 25-15.
With the rocky third set behind them, the Bison did their best to even the match for a second time. For the third straight frame, Kamp opened play with a kill. The teams then traded points through a majority of the set. Not until an ace from Iona' Alyssa Erickson for 20-17 did either team have an advantage greater than two points.
The Bison did not let things get of hand, however. McAhren soon tied the score at 21-21, and she and Jackson put Bucknell up 22-21 with a block. Iona ended the match with four of the next five points, including back-to-back kills by Genett, giving it the 25-23 win.
Kamp finished the match with 13 kills and three blocks. Mientus claimed seven kills, and Jackson added five to go along with six total blocks. Rodriguez led with 16 assists, but Tauscher was closed behind with 15 of her own. Rodriguez and Sawanobori each had 12 digs.
Joining Kamp on the All-Tournament Team were Ashley Mason and Haley Stein of Eastern Michigan, Erickson and Theresa Harvey of Iona and Fletcher from Providence.
Bucknell will return to the court next weekend for the Niagara/Canisius Invitational Sept. 10-11. The Bison lead off the tournament at Niagara at 6 p.m. on Friday. Saturday's action in Buffalo includes Canisius at 2 p.m. and Indiana at 6 p.m.
