Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Cal State Fullerton
Volleyball Claims Opening Set But Falls to Cal State Fullerton 3-1
8/30/2014 12:38:00 AM | Volleyball
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Bucknell volleyball team overcame an early six-point deficit and won the first set of Friday's season-opening match at Cal State Fullerton by a 26-24 score. The Titans, who are hosting this weekend's four-team tournament, came back and captured the final three sets 25-18, 25-19, 25-18, to post a 3-1 win.
Freshman Hailey Stout led the Bison (0-1) with 10 kills, including five in the first set that saw Bucknell trailing 12-6. The Bison finally drew even when an Erika Eastley kill made it 17-17. Cal State Fullerton (1-0) extended its advantage back out to 21-18 before the Bison tied the score again 22-22 and then took their first lead at 23-22 on a Stout kill.
After the score was tied at 24-all, Bucknell tallied back-to-back points to claim the set. A Stout kill made it 25-24 and a Holland Crenshaw attack error gave the Bison the set victory.
Bucknell's attack was a team effort as Jordan Walker (8), Karen Campbell (6) and Eastley (5) joined Stout to give the Bison four players with at least five kills in the match. Eastley and Campbell, who both ranked in the top five of the Patriot League in blocks a year ago, posted five blocks apiece (1 solo, 4 assisted). Kristen Gelenitis led the way with six blocks.
Sophomore Meghan Wentzel handled setter duties for Bucknell, tallying a team-best 23 assists to go along with 12 digs. Kristen Parks posted a team-high 17 digs.
The Bison featured a young lineup on Friday as 10 players saw action in the match and they included three freshmen, three sophomores and four juniors. The starting lineup featured one freshman, two sophomores and three juniors.
Niki Withers led the Titans with a match-high 20 kills, while McKenna Painton registered 30 digs. Mackenzie Olsen (35) and Katie Roux (22) both totaled more than 20 assists.
Bucknell will continue play at the Titan Classic Saturday with matches against Texas Tech (1 p.m. Eastern) and Sacred Heart (7 p.m. Eastern). Those two teams squared off on Friday and Texas Tech posted a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-17) victory in the opening match of the Titan Classic.
