Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Volleyball Clinches 3-1 Win Over Holy Cross with Thrilling Fourth Set
9/20/2014 9:00:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell volleyball team clinched a thrilling 3-1 win over Patriot League foe Holy Cross with a 38-36 victory in the fourth set on Saturday at Davis Gym. The Bison evened their conference record at 1-1.
Bucknell, which improved to 2-8 overall, lost the first set 25-21, but took the next three 29-27, 25-20, 38-36 to hand Holy Cross its second consecutive loss to a Patriot League opponent. The Crusaders dropped to 2-10 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
Karen Campbell and Hailey Stout combined on a block to secure the set and match for the Bison on their sixth attempt at match point. The Crusaders also had six chances to win the set, which included seven lead changes and 21 ties.
“I don't think I've ever been a part of a set that went 38-36,” Bucknell head coach Anna Allison said. “We won in four, but it was almost like a whole fifth set without a water break. It's a testament to our women. They are fighters.”
The fourth set overshadowed a great finish to the second set. The Bison had the advantage in that one four times before clinching it on back-to-back attack errors by the Crusaders.
“It was very good to get a win. It was a hard-fought game for both sides,” Allison said. “It's great when you see two teams battling and going after the ball every single time. Nobody wanted to give up. That's what you want. When you get the players on the court you just want them to go all out. If you go all out the result will take care of itself.”
In a match that featured long volleys from start to finish, both teams put up impressive defensive numbers. Bucknell was led by Kristen Parks with 38 digs, while Katie Price (25 digs), Stout (19) and Jordan Walker (17) also got in on the action. Holy Cross was paced by Emily Popp with 43 digs.
Offensively, Walker recorded 17 kills to lead a group of four Bison players in double digits. Stout tallied 15, while Campbell and Erika Eastley finished with 13 apiece. Meghan Wentzel set a career high with 49 assists and added nine digs and six blocks.
Katie McKernan did a little bit of everything for Holy Cross, registering a triple-double with 40 assists, 16 kills and 16 digs.
Bucknell will go on the road for a pair of conference matches next weekend. The Bison will travel to Washington, D.C. to play American on Sept. 26, and to Annapolis, Maryland to play Navy on Sept. 27.
