Volleyball Edges Holy Cross in Five Sets

WORCESTER, Mass.- Bucknell (6-6, 3-0 Patriot League) rallied from down two sets to one to escape with the narrow 3-2 (23-25, 26-24, 15-25, 25-5, 15-9) victory over Holy Cross (4-11, 0-3 Patriot League) on Friday night. The Bison used the momentum from the smashing 25-5 fourth set victory to edge the Crusaders in the final stanza.

The Crusaders edged the Bison in kills, 55-49, and the two teams tied at 60 digs apiece. Bucknell proved the more efficient attacking squad, hitting .250 to Holy Cross' low .122.

Tijana Kostic recorded another double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs. Sidney Shaffer led the Bison attack with 12 digs. Kaitlyn Taylor also supplied 11 kills.

Holy Cross only won two games in 2024 but their new coach had the team fighting ready and the new-look Crusaders opened the game winning the first set 25-23. With the score at 22-22, HC used a 3-1 segment to win.

Bucknell started the second set up 5-1 before a 7-1 Crusader rally changed the dynamics. Holy Cross continued to roll and went up 17-11. The Bison trailed 22-19 and were about to go down two sets to zero when a 5-0 run had Bucknell at set point. The Crusaders tied the set at 24-24 before a bad set by Holy Cross and a combined block by Kostic and Riley Tucker won the set.

The Bison breezed to another strong start in the third set but the rest of the operation went the Crusaders' way, as Holy Cross won 25-15. An 8-1 run ended the set in the Purple & White's favor.

The fourth set was one of the best played in Bucknell history. The Bison rolled to a 9-1 run. Bucknell capped the fourth set with a 11-1 stretch with the score at 17-4. A Shaffer service ace climaxed the easy victory. The stats told the story. Bucknell did not commit a single attack error and hit .529. The Orange & Blue struck five aces and collected four blocks.

The fifth set was relatively drama free. Bucknell rolled to a 4-0 lead. The slight excitement occurred with a 3-0 HC run. A 7-1 Bison stretch practically sealed the set and game. A final block by Caleigh O'Connell and Tucker clinched the Bucknell victory.

Bucknell faces reigning Patriot League champion Colgate tomorrow at 3 p.m. in a battle of unbeaten conference teams.

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Team Stats

Sidney Shaffer

Tijana Kostic

Kaitlyn Taylor

Caleigh O'Connell

Players Mentioned

Tijana Kostic

Caleigh O'Connell

Sidney Shaffer

Kaitlyn Taylor

Riley Tucker