Bucknell University
Navy
Volleyball Edged by Navy in Tough 3-2 Loss
9/29/2023 9:38:00 PM | Volleyball
ANNAPOLIS, Md.- The Bucknell Bison volleyball team (6-8, 2-3 PL) dropped a 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 26-24, 18-25, 8-15) heartbreaker on Friday night to the Navy Midshipmen (11-2, 3-1 PL). The Bison led two sets to one but could not stop the Mids from rallying and obtaining the victory.
The Bison jumped to an 8-3 lead in the first set. Navy cut the deficit to 9-8 before a 3-0 Bison run restored a breathing room advantage. Navy, to borrow naval vernacular, crossed the T to seize a 17-15 lead. Bucknell attempted to counterattack, moving within two points, 21-19.  The Orange & Blue could not inch closer as Navy used a 4-1 stretch to win the set.
Bucknell treated the start of the second set like the first one by storming out to a 4-1 lead. Navy again reduced the deficit to one point (6-5). The Bison responded with a 5-2 run. The Midshipmen boat raced out to a 12-11 lead. The two teams traded the next four points. Bucknell then took a slight 15-14 lead. Navy tied it up, but the Bison replied with a decisive 7-0 run to sink the Naval Academy's hopes. The stretch was a complete team effort as four different Bison recorded kills. Navy did not strike its colors by going on a 3-0 run. Bucknell kept calm and obtained the final kill via Cameron Lloyd to win the set, 25-21. Â
Navy flipped the standard script in the third set and sailed out to a 6-1 lead before Bucknell called timeout. The Bison recovered from the initial Midshipmen attack and responded to tie the set at 9-9. Bucknell then grabbed a 13-11 lead before Navy used a 4-0 run to regain the advantage. The teams tied the set at 15-15 as the game turned into a tightly fought battle as neither squad could build more than a one-point lead. With the score at 23-23, Bucknell used an attack error by Navy to establish a set point. A Navy kill tied the set, but Bucknell used another attack error and a Bri Frazilus laser to take a 26-24 win and the 2-1 set lead.
Bucknell started well in the fourth set by obtaining a 5-3 lead. Navy responded by grabbing the 10-7 advantage. The Bison fought back to tie the game at 10-10. The Mids attempted to break away again, but Bucknell stuck to their heels to tie the set at 14-14. The remainder of the set was all Navy. The Annapolis squad went on an 11-4 run to take the win and establish a climatic fifth set.
The final set began brightly for the Bison as Bucknell broke out a 3-0 lead. But the Midshipmen fought back to make it 6-5 Navy. The Bison tied up the set on a Navy error. The sequence proved to be the Orange & Blue's high-water mark. Navy finished the game on a 9-2 run to win the set and match.
The Bison return to action tomorrow when they play Loyola (Md.) at 6 p.m.
