Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Connecticut
Volleyball Opens Home Schedule with Losses to UConn, Cornell
9/13/2014 8:53:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell Invitational concluded Saturday with the Bison volleyball team dropping a pair of matches to Connecticut and Cornell. The Bison fell by a 3-1 (27-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-17) margin to the Huskies in the morning match and then lost 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-19) to the Big Red in the evening. Freshman Hailey Stout led Bucknell in kills in both matches and finished with 21 on the day.
Connecticut and Cornell opened the three-match Bucknell Invitational Friday evening with the Huskies posting a 3-0 victory.
The Bison (1-7) opened Saturday's competition playing very well in front of a spirited crowd in Davis Gym that was witnessing Bucknell on its home floor for the first time this season. The Bison jumped out to an early 7-1 advantage in the first set. They continued to lead most of the set until UConn (5-3) went ahead 21-20. Bucknell was strong down the stretch and had a chance to win it, but the Huskies scored twice after the score was knotted at 25-all to take the early 1-0 lead in the match.
The Bison led most of the second half of the second set and the final 25-20 margin equaled their largest lead of the frame as they evened the match score at 1-1.
The largest lead in the third set was three points by Bucknell on three different occasions, but Connecticut tallied five of the final eight points to go up 2-1 before winning the final set by a 25-17 margin to clinch the win.
Service errors proved to be a big factor in the match as UConn finished with 15 and Bucknell 10.
Stout led the Bison with 13 kills in the match, while Erika Eastley chipped in nine. Eastley also had five solo blocks and five block assists. She piled up 10 block assists on the day, boosting her team-high total to 33.
Bucknell's defense limited the Huskies to hitting .100. Devon Maugle led them with 14 kills, while Immanuella Anagu posted 11.
Stout added eight more kills and a team-high 15 digs in the nightcap against Cornell, but it was not enough as the Big Red posted the three-set victory.
The Bison did hold a 19-15 lead late in the second set, but Cornell tallied 10 of the set's final 12 points.
Meghan Wentzel posted 19 assists against the Big Red, giving her 46 on the day. She also had 13 total digs.
Maddy Sroufe and Emily Wemhoff led Cornell with 15 kills apiece.
The Bison will continue their four-game homestand next weekend when they open Patriot League play. They will host Army Friday at 7 p.m. and Holy Cross next Saturday at 5 p.m.
