Bucknell University
13-10,6-8Patriot
American
12-14,4-9Patriot
Volleyball Earns Series Sweep Over American with 3-1 Victory
11/4/2022 10:14:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell volleyball team defeated American 3-1, in large part thanks to a season-high 15 kills from freshman Tijana Kostic, at Davis Gym Friday evening. With the win, Bucknell collected its first-ever series sweep against the Eagles. Bucknell defeated American 3-2 in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 1.
Bucknell won 25-22 in the opening set before American tied the match with a 25-19 win in the second. The Bison then raced to a 25-17 win in the third and fought off a late American push in the fourth to win it 25-22.
With the victory, Bucknell maintained its fifth-place position in the Patriot League standings, improving to 6-8 in league play and 13-10 overall. The win snapped a three-match losing skid for the Bison.
That does it! Bucknell picks up its second win over the Eagles this season! #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/dFZmdLxdrl
— Bucknell Volleyball (@Bucknell_VB) November 5, 2022
Kostic's 15 kills came on 37 total attacks with just two errors, giving her a .351 hitting percentage for the match. She added a pair of block assists as well. Fellow freshman Bri Frazilus matched Kostic with 15 kills of her own along with 10 digs and five block assists for her eighth double-double this season. Another rookie, Caleigh O'Connell, racked up a season-high 40 assists and three block solos.
As a team, Bucknell led 8-2 in service aces and 12-10 in blocks.
Kostic's 15th kill of the night sealed the match after American rallied from a 20-14 deficit and drew within one of tying at 23-22 in the fourth set. She recorded five of her kills in the final frame while maintaining a .400 hitting percentage. The fourth set also featured six total service errors, four of which were committed by American including one on the second-to-last point.
The Bison hit .355 in the third set to break the 1-1 tie in the match. The two teams traded leads seven times in the third before a 6-0 run by the Bison gave them a 20-13 advantage. American was never able to get closer than five the rest of the set. It was Frazilus carrying the Bison in the third with eight kills and just one error with an outstanding .583 hitting percentage.
Bucknell trailed halfway through the first set of the match after American bounced back from an early 8-3 deficit. The lead went back and forth four times until a 4-0 Bison run put them up 22-18, and they never trailed again.
American led throughout the second after collecting the first five points, and the Bison hit just .091 in the set.
Sophomore Jordan Hardy led the Bison with 18 digs, and junior Valentina Feigl put together an all-around strong match with eight kills, a .316 hitting percentage, two service aces, three block assists and six digs.
American's Zeynep Uzen, the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year, led all players with 19 kills and 13 digs.
Bucknell has two regular-season matches remaining on the schedule. The Bison host Loyola at Davis Gym at 5 p.m. on Saturday for Senior Day. The Greyhounds are currently fourth in the Patriot League standings.
