Bucknell University
Lafayette
Volleyball Defeats Lafayette for Second Sweep of the Weekend
9/18/2022 5:25:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell volleyball team is off to a 2-0 start in Patriot League play after sweeping Lafayette 3-0 at Davis Gym on Sunday. It was the team's second sweep of the weekend following a 3-0 win over Lehigh on Saturday. Bucknell (9-2, 2-0 PL) posted a strong .293 hitting percentage for the match and saw two players register double-digit kills. Seven Bison hit .240 or better. Meanwhile, Lafayette (4-5, 1-1 PL) was limited to a .079 hitting percentage and was unable to score more than 20 points in any of the three sets.
"I liked our competitiveness. Today wasn't the cleanest that we've played. Yesterday we were doing things a little bit more disciplined, but I think our competitiveness and that we bounced back was really nice to see," said head coach Tyler Hagstrom.
Freshman outside hitter Bri Frazilus led the team in kills, totaling 13 to go along with eight digs. Jordan Hardy accounted for 21 of the team's 52 digs, Catherine Jamison supplied 10 kills, and Allie Lopez posted eight kills with just one error and two block assists for a .636 hitting percentage.
The Bison battled back from several small deficits throughout the match, including an early 5-0 run in the first that put the Leopards up 5-2. Trailing 14-11 midway through, Bucknell put together a 7-0 run to take a 17-14 lead. The Bison never lost the lead again in the first, and Lafayette failed to score back-to-back points the rest of the way as Bucknell took the first set 25-20.
After Lafayette grabbed the first point on a Bucknell attack error in the second frame, the Bison maintained control and led the rest of the way. A 7-1 run put the Orange & Blue up 10-4, and the Leopards drew no closer than two of tying. Frazilus posted 10 of her 13 kills over the first two sets.
Bucknell battled back again in the third after the Leopards opened on a 4-1 run and stretched their lead to 7-3. The Bison proceeded to go on a 6-0 run that included a pair of kills by Lopez and a Sarina Singer service ace. Bucknell saw another run of 5-0 and ended the match by collecting six of the final seven points scored.
The Bison trailed 7-3 in the third set and went on a 6-0 run to take the lead! Singer's ace tied it up. @PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN
— Bucknell Volleyball (@Bucknell_VB) September 18, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/dLNAR3IvTA pic.twitter.com/qDsgcpFl6s
Other notable performances included 19 assists, seven digs and two kills by freshman Laura Caro, as well as three kills, 16 assists and three block assists by freshman Caleigh O'Connell.
It was Bucknell's first win over Lafayette since 2019, and it's the program's first 2-0 start to league play since 2007 when it also earned sweeps over Lehigh and Lafayette in its first two matches.
The Bison remain at home next weekend to host Holy Cross on Saturday, Sept. 24 and Colgate on Sunday, Sept. 25.
