Bucknell University
10-3,3-1Patriot
Colgate
11-3,4-0Patriot
Volleyball Falls in Five-Setter to Reigning PL Champion Colgate
9/25/2022 6:24:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Junior Catherine Jamison registered a career-high 23 kills, including seven in the third set to keep Sunday's match alive, but the Bucknell volleyball team ultimately fell 3-2 in a thrilling matchup with defending Patriot League champion Colgate at Davis Gym. The Bison battled back after losing the first two sets and led 14-13 in the fifth before ultimately suffering their first league loss of the season.
Jamison's 23 kills came on 53 total attempts, and she committed nine errors for a .264 hitting percentage. Freshman Bri Frazilus joined Jamison in double figures with 15 while maintaining a .294 hitting percentage. Junior Allie Lopez also set a career high with nine total blocks, including two solos, and sophomore libero Jordan Hardy tallied 35 digs.
Bucknell finished with a .222 hitting percentage as a team while Colgate was at .247.
The Raiders appeared to be running away with the match early on, winning set one 25-15 and set two 25-19, but momentum began to shift as the Bison got hot in the third. Bucknell hit .432 in the third frame and only trailed once at 1-0.
The fourth was highlighted by outstanding defensive efforts from Lopez and freshman Tijana Kostic, who combined for eight block assists and a block solo during the set. The lead went back and forth until the Bison went on a 6-0 run that gave them a 21-15 advantage. The run saw Lopez deny four Colgate attacks at the net, including three in a row at one point.
The Bison had all the momentum by the time the match reached the fifth, and they opened the set by scoring the first three points on kills by Frazilus and Jen Sivak as well as a Colgate attack error. The Raiders came back to take the lead at 4-3, but Bucknell responded with another 3-0 run.
The fifth set saw seven total lead changes as both squads fought to remain unbeaten in Patriot League play and for a share of first place. A kill by Jamison put Bucknell up 14-13 and forced a Colgate timeout. The junior was then set up to seal the match, but her attack was just off the mark, and Colgate ended things with a service ace to cap a 3-0 run.
Another notable performance for the Orange & Blue included a match-high 30 assists for freshman setter Laura Caro, who added 14 digs for her first career double-double. Frazilus was also in double figures with 11 digs, giving her six double-doubles this fall.
The loss was Bucknell's first at home this season, and the team moved to 10-3 (3-1 PL) following a four-match homestand.
Bucknell now hits the road for three straight matches away from Davis Gym. Up next, the Bison face Loyola in Baltimore, Md. on Friday, Sept. 30.
