Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Volleyball Sweeps Lafayette for First Time Since 2011
10/4/2014 9:04:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell volleyball team put together one of its most complete performances of the season Saturday as it swept visiting Lafayette 25-16, 28-26, 25-17. It was the Bison's first sweep of the Leopards since 2011.
Bucknell improved to 3-11 overall and 2-4 in the Patriot League with the win. The Leopards dropped to 4-13 overall and 1-4 in league play.
The Bison showed a little bit of everything in the win. They started strong with an easy victory in the first set, put together a nice comeback to take the second set and put an exclamation point on the match with another dominant showing in the final set.
“We didn't play our best last night against Lehigh, but we came back refocused and put together a great effort tonight,” Bucknell head coach Anna Allison said. “One thing we have been working on a lot is to sustain that. We let go of momentum a little bit on the second set, but we were able to come back and finish and then come back strong for the third set. That's what we worked on all week in practice was capitalizing and finishing.”
Bucknell distanced itself from Lafayette early in the first set, forcing a Leopards' timeout after jumping out to a quick 7-2 lead. The run was highlighted by an ace from Meghan Wentzel and a kill by Karen Campbell. Jordan Walker did a lot of the damage from there, tallying five of her team-high 14 kills in the set.
Lafayette came alive in the second set, but fortunately for Bucknell so did the defensive effort by Kristen Parks. The sophomore was all over the floor as she recorded 11 of her team-high 21 digs to help the Bison erase a 21-18 deficit.
“Kristen Parks has been the heart and soul of our team. She makes defensive plays that nobody believes she will be able to make. She has really been a difference maker for us,” Allison said.
The Bison trailed 24-23 in the second set, but staved off set point thanks to a kill by Erika Eastley off an assist from Wentzel. Eastley would later score the final point of the set with a solo block. She finished the match with eight kills and four blocks.
Hailey Stout led a trio of Bucknell players with three or more kills in the third set as Bucknell put the match away. Stout tallied five of her eight kills, helping the Bison lead by as much as 11 (22-11). Walker closed out the match with a kill off an assist from Luz Nagle.
Bucknell will look to build off the win over Lafayette as it readies itself for upcoming matches against two more Patriot League opponents. The Bison will travel to play Loyola (Md.) on Saturday and will host Colgate for a match on Monday, Oct. 13.
