Volleyball Celebrates Senior Day with Win over Lehigh; Eighth Straight Victory for Team

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison volleyball team (15-9, 11-4 PL) closed the regular season home schedule with a 3-1 (17-25, 14-25, 20-25, 23-25) win over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (13-13, 5-10 PL) on Sunday. Lehigh won the first set but Bucknell rallied to take the last three to tie a program record for conference wins with 11. The 2003 team first set the mark. Seniors Catherine Jamison and Allie Lopez celebrated Senior Day with 15 kills and seven blocks respectively.

Recap

Lehigh stormed out to a 4-1 lead in the first set and extended its advantage to 10-3. Bucknell attempted to rally but could not cut deeply into the deficit. With the score at 16-9 Lehigh, the Bethlehem team went on a 4-0 run to effectively ice the set. The Bison never stopped fighting and made it exciting with a 4-0 stretch of their own to make it 24-17. But Lehigh closed out the set with a kill.

Bucknell fired out of a cannon to start the second set. The Bison went on a 3-0 run to establish an early tone. Lehigh fought back to cut the lead to 9-8. Bucknell used a 9-1 run powered by two Jamison kills to create separation. Lehigh did not give up and fought to within 18-12 and 21-14. The Orange & Blue ensured there would not be late set shenanigans going on a 4-0 run with two Tijana Kostic kills to win 25-14.

The third set was a set of runs. It started equal, with both teams scoring three points. Then Bucknell ripped off a 7-0 streak to take a commanding lead. Lehigh immediately counterattacked with a 12-5 run to take the one-point advantage. Bucknell called timeout and regrouped using a 4-0 stretch to retake the lead. Lehigh twice sneaked within two points, but the Bison kept the Mountain Hawks at bay. An attack error from Lehigh gave Bucknell the 25-20 win.

Lehigh fought hard in the fourth set, seeking to extend the game. The Mountain Hawks flew out to an 11-7 advantage, which was immediately erased by a 7-0 Bucknell run. Lehigh rallied to tie the contest at 19-19 and then forged ahead 22-20. Bucknell remained undaunted by the situation by tying up the score. Lehigh retook the lead one final time at 23-22. Bucknell ended the set and match, with a 3-0 run as senior Lopez fittingly provided the winning kill.

Notes

Bucknell honored five seniors: Valentina Feigl, Catherine Jamison, Allie Lopez, Libby Nieporte, and Sarah Ramirez. The senior class collected 38 wins and returned Bucknell to the Patriot League Tournament. Additionally, Bucknell will host its first Patriot League Tournament game since 2000.

Jordan Hardy gathered 30 digs to give her 511 on the season and 1485 in her career. Hardy passed Susie Teitsworth for second-most in Bucknell history. Teitsworth played from 1993-1996 and had 1474 digs. Brandi Trapasso (2000-2003) has the most with 1588.

Up Next

The Bison complete the regular season with a crucial matchup at American next Saturday. The match will be for seed position among the top four in the league.

Volleyball Celebrates Senior Day with Win over Lehigh; Eighth Straight Victory for Team

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Team Stats

Catherine Jamison

Cameron Lloyd

Allie Lopez

Tijana Kostic

Players Mentioned

Valentina Feigl

Jordan Hardy

Catherine Jamison

Tijana Kostic

Allie Lopez

Libby Nieporte

Sarah Ramirez