Volleyball Moves to 2-0 Conference Start with 3-1 Collaring of Leopards

EASTON, Pa.- Bucknell Volleyball (5-6, 2-0 Patriot League) started 2-0 in conference play for the second consecutive year with a 3-1 (25-13, 25-18, 22-25, 25-19) victory over Keystone State rival Lafayette (3-9, 1-1 Patriot League) on Sunday afternoon. The Bison extended their win streak to seven games over the Leopards.

Bella Rodriguez and Sidney Shaffer tied for a game-high 18 kills. Shaffer was mechanically efficient with an astounding .621 hitting percentage. Tijana Kostic recorded another double-double with 11 kills and 20 digs. Caleigh O'Connell supplied 49 assists.

Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo led Lafayette with 15 kills.

Bucknell collected 64 kills to Lafayette's 39. The Bison's defense gathered 92 digs and held Lafayette to an abysmal .107 hitting percentage.

Lafayette led 2-1 in the first set before an Orange & Blue avalanche buried the Leopards. The Bison rolled to the 13-4 lead before Lafayette could assemble a credible response. Bucknell kept stacking points against the helpless Leopard defense. Lafayette did obtain a mini 3-0 run but the Bison were unstoppable and Bucknell ended the set on a 3-0 run for the 25-13 win.

The second set was slightly closer. Bucknell raced to a 14-6 lead and looked poised to repeat its first set performance. Lafayette refused to yield that easily and cut the deficit to 17-15. The veteran Bison responded with an 8-3 run to win the set, 25-18.

Lafayette prevented the sweep with a 25-22 win in set three. The Leopards began to trek away from the Bison with the score tied at 9-9. Bucknell made a late run with the score at 23-18 Lafayette but fell short which sent the game to a fourth set.

The Leopards scored the first four points in the fourth set but Bucknell rallied to tie the situation at 5-5. The teams traded points until Lafayette slightly forged ahead at 16-14. Bucknell replied with an 8-0 run to steal the lead and the Bison galloped to the 25-19 set win and the match victory.

Up Next

Bucknell heads to Worcester on Friday night to face Holy Cross at 7 p.m.