Bucknell University
1-1,0-0Patriot
Delaware State
2-0,0-0MEAC
Bucknell Volleyball Goes 1-1 on Final Day of Delaware State Tournament
8/28/2021 8:31:00 PM | Volleyball
DOVER, Del. – The Bucknell volleyball team wrapped up its first weekend of competition by going 1-1 on the second day of the Delaware State Invitational. The Bison concluded the weekend with a 3-0 sweep of Saint Peter's, giving them a 2-1 record at the tournament. Bucknell fell 3-0 to host Delaware State earlier in the day.
"It was great to be back out and competing. We were able to see some different lineups and some different iterations of what we'll see moving forward," said head coach Tyler Hagstrom. "Some players stepped up and did some nice things. It's something that we want to build upon and each tournament get better and better. It was a good start and there are some things we definitely want to get better at."
Bucknell 3, Saint Peter's 0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-15)
A 9-0 run for the Bison in the first set of Saturday's second match set the tone for the remainder of the contest as Bucknell pulled off its first sweep of the season. After cruising to a 25-15 win in the first, the Peacocks kept things close in the second by tying the score at 14-14. Bucknell responded with another 9-0 run to push their lead to 23-14.
Saint Peter's also held a 5-2 lead in the third, but Bucknell slowly gained separation throughout the remainder of the set to seal the match.
Sophomore Catherine Jamison led all Bison with 12 kills and was one of three teammates to record a hitting percentage above .500. Fellow sophomore Allie Lopez totaled nine kills with a .692 hitting percentage, and rookie Thea Rotto added 11 kills with a .500. Lopez also led the team with four blocks. Rookie Jordan Hardy supplied a team-best 14 digs.
As a team, the Bison posted a .270 hitting percentage, while the Peacocks struggled to a .062 mark.
Delaware State 3, Bucknell 0 (25-18, 32-30, 27-25)
Bucknell put up a strong fight in the final two sets of the first match, taking the Hornets well beyond 25 points.
After surrendering the first set, Bucknell jumped out to a 24-19 lead in the second. The Hornets battled back with a 5-0 run to extend the set. The two teams traded points and were tied a 30-apiece before a Bucknell ball handling error and an attacking error gave Delaware State the 32-30 win.
The roles were reversed in the third set as the Bison found themselves trailing 21-15 with the match on the line. A kill by rookie Jen Sivak and a service ace from Libby Nieporte helped carry the Bison on a 6-0 run that tied the set a 21-21. Three consecutive Delaware State points were followed by four in a row from the Bison, giving the Orange & Blue a 25-24 advantage, but the Hornets scored three in a row to end the match.
Lisa Zoch led the Bison with 13 kills and 12 digs for her second double-double of the season. She was followed in kills by senior Jennie Burke, who totaled seven. Nieporte finished with three service aces, and Sivak accounted for three of the team's six blocks. Delaware State posted a .305 hitting percentage for the match.
Following the weekend's final matches, both Zoch and Hardy were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Next, Bucknell travels to Philadelphia, Pa. to participate in the Penn Invitational. The Bison open the weekend by playing the Quakers on Friday, Sept. 3. They'll then face Canisius and Coppin State on Saturday, Sept. 4.
