Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Fairleigh Dickinson
Volleyball Comes Back to Win Home Opener vs. FDU
9/13/2013 11:43:00 AM | Volleyball
Bucknell was playing a Fairleigh Dickinson (0-11) squad that had lost in three sets to Canisius earlier in the evening. The Bison defeated the Knights 3-0 two weeks ago at the La Salle Invitational and are now 8-3 all-time in the series.
"We had a few jitters and butterflies playing in front of parents and friends at home for the first time," said Bucknell first-year head coach Anna Allison. "FDU played a great match and we had to find out what was working for us on a day we weren't playing our best. It was great to get the win and start the weekend on a high note."
The Bison easily won the first set and it looked like they would have the opportunity to equal their 3-0 victory from two weeks ago, but Fairleigh Dickinson came back and took a 2-1 lead with victories in sets two and three.
Six straight points in the middle of the fourth set with Brazda serving stretched a 10-8 Bison lead to a 16-8 advantage. Bucknell ended up winning the set by nine points to force a deciding fifth set.
The Bison scored the first five points in the final set, again with Brazda serving. The Knights could not draw closer than two points the rest of the way as Bucknell recorded its best seven-match start to a season (5-2) since 1998.
Jordan Walker and Jessica Serrato joined Mientus in double figures in kills with 10 apiece, while Walker, Karen Campbell and Erika Eastley each had three block assists. Eastley also added two solo blocks and Campbell chipped in one.
Courtney Kovensky led Fairleigh Dickinson with 16 kills, Allison Butler registered 43 assists and Deborah Hong had 18 digs.
The Bison went much deeper on their bench as 15 different players saw action, compared to just 10 for the Knights.
The Bucknell Invitational will continue with three matches Saturday. The Bison will play the 1,000th match in program history at noon against Canisius. Later, they will take on Rider (5 p.m.), while Rider and Fairleigh Dickinson will face off at 3 p.m. Bucknell has won four of its last five home matches, dating back to 2012.
