Bucknell University
6-14,2-9Patriot
Army
14-6,8-3Patriot
Volleyball Concludes 1-1 Weekend with Loss to Army West Point
10/23/2021 6:28:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell volleyball wrapped up its weekend of home matches with a 3-0 loss to Army West Point in Davis Gym, capping a 1-1 week for the Bison. Bucknell led in sets two and three as the match featured seven total lead changes and 16 tie scores, but the Black Knights held the edge in hitting percentage, blocks and service aces on their way to victory.
Bucknell (6-14, 2-9 PL) saw three players reached double-digit digs, and senior outside hitter Jennie Burke led the team with a season-high 11 kills on 29 total attempts and four errors for a .241 hitting percentage. The Bison posted a match-high .250 hitting percentage in set one, and they lost sets two and three by just three points each. Army (14-6, 8-3 PL) outside hitter Cate Buckingham led the Black Knights with 11 kills and a .333 hitting percentage.
Army posted three of its eight blocks during the first set and used a 5-0 run to overcome an early Bison lead. Bucknell led by as many as three on several occasions in the first, including a 9-6 advantage. A 10-2 Army run in the middle of the frame put the Black Knights up 16-11, and the Bison strung together back-to-back points just two more times over the remainder of the set before falling 25-20.
The Bison struggled with nine attack errors in set two and trailed throughout its duration after tying at 1-1. Army posted a 5-0 run early on and went up 18-12 before the Bison started coming back. Trailing 22-16, Bucknell stole six of the next eight points to pull within two of tying at 24-22 and forced an Army timeout. The Black Knights, however, picked up the set point to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set three featured five lead changes and nine tie scores as the Bison attempted to keep the match the alive. The Black Knights were stingy at the net in the third, posting five blocks. A 5-0 Bison run that included kills from three different players and an Amanda Tesserot service ace gave Bucknell a 10-8 advantage in the early stages. Bucknell stayed on Army's heels the rest of the way and was within one of tying at 22-21, but two consecutive attack errors and a kill by Army's Savannah Bray put an end to the match.
Setter Sarah Ramirez ended the match with 23 assists, adding to the 37 she posted in Friday's win over Holy Cross. The sophomore also posted 11 digs, giving her a double-double for the match. Libero Jordan Hardy led the team with 18 digs, and rookie Amanda Tesserot was in double figures for a second straight match as well with 10. Sophomore Valentina Feigl contributed three of Bucknell's 10 block assists.
Bucknell is on the road next weekend for matches at American and Navy. The Bison visit the Eagles at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29 before heading to Annapolis, Md. to face the Midshipmen on Saturday, Oct. 30.
