Bucknell University
2-5,0-0Patriot
Canisius
1-6,0-0MAAC
Volleyball Enjoys Friday Afternoon with Wins over Canisius and Mercyhurst
9/12/2025 5:35:00 PM | Volleyball
VESTAL, N.Y.- Bucknell Volleyball (3-5) enjoyed a successful Friday afternoon by defeating Canisius (1-6) in four sets (25-14, 25-22, 20-25, 25-15) and sweeping Mercyhurst (1-8) (25-10, 30-28, 25-17) on day one of the Binghamton Invitational.
Canisius Recap
Sidney Shaffer led Bucknell with 18 kills. Tijana Kostic posted a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs. Kaitlin Taylor collected a career-high 10 kills.
Bucknell breezed through the opening set after some early complications. Canisius led 4-2 before the Bison started to find a groove. The Golden Griffins kept it close at 11-10 before the Orange & Blue ended the set on a 14-4 run. Multiple segments of 3-0 and 4-0 fueled the outcome.
The second set was a much closer affair. Canisius held the early advantage and moved ahead 12-8 and 16-12 after the media timeout. The Bison unleashed a 4-0 run to tie the set and then went ahead 23-19. A 3-0 run by the Griffs triggered a smart timeout by head coach Jeremy Young. Kills by Kostic and Shaffer resulted in the 25-22 set two win.
Canisius extended the game with a dominant win in the third set. The Golden Griffins never trailed and consistently led by six to eight points. Bucknell inched within 24-20 but a final Canisius kill ended any comeback hopes.
Bucknell blew the Griffs away in the fourth set for a decisive 25-15 win. The score sat at 7-7 before Bucknell unleashed a patented 13-6 run to establish breathing space. A 5-1 stretch ended the set with a Shaffer kill appropriately providing the match point.
Mercyhurst Recap
Kostic led Bison with 14 kills on a sparkling .478 hitting percentage. Shaffer provided 12 kills and nearly hit as well at .429 percent. Caleigh O'Connell supplied 37 assists.
Bucknell made quick work of the Lakers in the first set, sprinting to a 11-1 lead. Mercyhurst tried every tactic possible to blunt the Bison charge to no avail. The Orange & Blue cruised to a 21-5 advantage before the Lakers saved some face by reaching ten points. A Klea Tarja kill ended the set, 25-10.
The second set was the exact opposite of the opening stanza. The two teams battled into extra volleyball. Bucknell appeared to start breaking away with a 3-0 run with the teams tied at 7-7 and then going up 16-11. Mercyhurst vaporized those hopes by sticking tight to the Bison's flank, eventually tying the set at 22-22 and inching ahead 23-22. Bucknell rallied for two points and had the chance for set point but the opportunity was lost The Lakers twice had the chance for set point but Bucknell prevented the win. Two straight Kostic kills won the set, 30-28.
The Bison rolled in the final set, speeding to a 9-3 lead and never looking back. Mercyhurst squeezed within three points (15-12) before Bucknell found the accelerator and raced to the team's first sweep of 2025. A Kostic kill end the set and game.
Up Next
Bucknell concludes the Binghamton Invitational tomorrow with a match against the host team at 1:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
