Bucknell University
Loyola (PL Quarterfinals)
Volleyball Falls 3-1 at Loyola in Patriot League Quarterfinal Round
11/15/2022 10:28:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell volleyball team's memorable 2022 season came to an end Tuesday night with a 3-1 loss at Loyola in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal round. The Bison pulled out a gritty 25-23 win in the opening set to take a 1-0 lead in the match, but the Greyhounds caught fire and limited Bucknell to just 22 kills over the final three sets.
Bucknell, which was making its first appearance in the Patriot League Tournament since 2010, was led by senior Lisa Zoch's 10 kills and .250 hitting percentage. Zoch also added a season-high five block assists. Loyola, which earned its first-ever Patriot League Tournament win, saw 17 kills and 10 digs by First Team All-Patriot League selection Lauren Link.
The Bison looked strong in the opening frame, posting 17 kills with a .317 hitting percentage. Patriot League Rookie of the Year Bri Frazilus supplied six kills with no errors in the first, and despite six lead changes and 14 ties, the Bison seemed to maintain momentum heading into the second.
The second set was back and forth as well with seven more lead changes, but the Bison struggled to just six kills on 42 total attempts and allowed three Loyola service aces while committing three service errors themselves. Tied at 14-14, Loyola used a 4-0 run to grab an 18-14 lead, and Bucknell never saw the lead again in the frame.
Another 5-0 run in the third set put the hosting Greyhounds up 22-16, their largest lead in the match to that point, and once again the Bison were unable to recover.
Loyola hit a match-best .326 in the fourth set and never trailed, despite a 3-1 run by the Bison that tied things up at 6-6. Loyola ended the match by collecting seven of the last nine points and winning the fourth 25-15.
The Greyhounds finished the match with a 58-39 advantage in kills and a 6-0 lead in service aces. Bucknell led 9-7 in blocks and 85-79 in digs, as Second Team All-Patriot League libero Jordan Hardy matched Loyola's five-time Patriot League Libero of the Year Katie Forsythe with 25 digs.
Bucknell ended its season with 15 wins, which were the most by the Bison since the 2006 season.
Loyola now advances to the Patriot League semifinals and will face top-seeded Colgate on Saturday.
