Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
13-11,2-10Patriot
Loyola Maryland
12-14,5-7Patriot
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola Maryland | 25 | 25 | 16 | 16 | 1 |
| Bucknell | 27 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Bucknell Volleyball Victorious Over Loyola (Md.), 3-1
11/2/2019 7:10:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Three Bison recorded double-digit kills, and the team kept a hitting percentage of .354 to defeat the Loyola Greyhounds 3-1 (27-25, 21-25, 25-16, 25-16) in Davis Gym Saturday evening. With the win, Bucknell improves to 14-10 on the season and earns a third league victory.
Bucknell showed resilience throughout the entirety of the match, battling back from deficits in two of the four sets. The Bison made a big statement by winning the first after facing a set-point at 24-23. Bucknell scored four of the next five points to win it, 27-25. The Bison were also helped out by four Loyola service errors.
Though the Greyhounds came away with a win in the second set, Bucknell whittled away at an 18-10 Loyola lead with an 11-5 scoring run to get within two before it was over.
The third set was highlighted by a 6-0 Bison run that gave them a 13-4 lead. The Greyhounds would score just 12 more points before the Bucknell put an end to the set and took a 2-1 lead in the match. The Bison committed just three errors and maintained a hitting percentage of .417 in the third.
It looked like Loyola would force a fifth set after grabbing the first three points in the fourth, but Bucknell put together a 9-2 scoring run to jump out in front. Bucknell's run was followed by five unanswered Loyola points, putting the score at 10-9 in favor of the Greyhounds. However, a pair of Sophie Bullard kills sparked another run by the Bison, as they scored five straight to take the lead for good.
Bucknell's .354 hitting percentage was its highest of the season, and although the Greyhounds were over .420 across the first two sets, the Bison held them to a .154 in the third and .077 in the fourth. Sophie Bullard's 23-kill performance was the best of her career, and the senior added 14 digs, three block assists, and a hitting percentage of .524 as well.
Bullard was followed by Lisa Zoch's 13 kills, which were a career high for the freshman who also recorded 10 digs and a .303 percentage. Zoch and Bullard were joined in double-figures by Anna Carroll and her 12 kills.
Also notable was a five-block assist outing by Mimi Richards, who also tallied nine kills. Freshman Kelsey O'Loughlin was the match leader in assists with 51, and led all Bison with a .714 hitting percentage to go along with five kills. Libero Brook Stark led the Bison with 22 digs.
"We have shown a lot of resilience over the past 10 days," said head coach Anna Allison. "Through injuries, through good and bad moments, this team has stuck together. They've trusted each other, and tonight we were able to put it together and play Bucknell volleyball as one."
Next, Bucknell goes on the road for matches at Holy Cross and Army West Point. The Holy Cross match is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8. Bucknell defeated the Crusaders 3-2 earlier in the season.
