Bucknell University
0-1,0-0Patriot
Iowa State
1-0,0-0Big 12
Volleyball Drops Two Games on Opening Day
8/29/2025 10:09:00 PM | Volleyball
ATHENS, OHIO- Bucknell Volleyball (0-2) began the 2025 season with two losses to Iowa State (1-0) and Ohio (1-0) on the first day of the Bobcat Invitational. The Orange & Blue were swept by Iowa State and defeated in four sets by Ohio.
Iowa State Recap
Bri Frazilus and Tijana Kostic led the team with eight kills but the Big 12 Cyclones were too much for the Bison winning in straight sets (21-25, 9-25, 20-25). Iowa State collected 50 kills to Bucknell's 27.
The Bison tied the Cyclones twice (1-1 & 13-13) but never led in the first set. Kostic started strong with her first four attempts ending in kills. Bucknell fought hard but could not string together a decisive run.
Iowa State dominated the second set 25-9. The score sat 1-1 before ISU unleashed a 12-0 stretch to firmly grasp control of the situation. ISU grew its advantage to 19-4 before Bucknell rallied for a few points but the deficit was too much to overcome.
Bucknell refuse to concede an easy sweep to Iowa State and fought hard in the third set. The Bison grabbed their first lead of the game at 18-17 when Kostic delivered a kill. The advantage was short-lived as the Cyclones responded with a 4-0 run. ISU ran the momentum to a 25-20 set victory and the sweep.
Stephanie Eroh and Peyton McGee made their Bison debuts. Eroh started and recorded three kills.
Ohio Recap
Frazilus paced the Bison effort with 11 kills and eight digs but the Bobcats gathered 55 kills to the Bison's 35, as Ohio won in four sets (23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25).Â
Bucknell led 13-9 and 18-12 in the first set before Ohio launched a comeback. The Bobcats kept chipping away at the lead until tying the score at 22-22. A 3-1 Ohio run completed the rally and handed the host team the first set win.
In the second set, the score was tied at 5-5 before Ohio went on a 9-1 run to establish a decisive lead. Bucknell squeezed within 18-15 until the Bobcats slammed the door on any comeback.
The Orange & Blue fell behind 9-5 before using a 6-0 run to seize the lead. The two teams traded points until the score was 21-20 Bucknell. The Bison ran off four straight points winning its first set of 2025 on an Ohio service error.
The final set started promisingly with a 3-0 Bucknell lead. The advantage evaporated when Ohio scored eight straight points. The Bobcats never trailed again and kept ahead to win 25-21 and send the Bison to 0-2.
Up Next
Bucknell completes the Bobcat Invitational tomorrow against Eastern Illinois at noon.
