Oct. 22, 2010
Final Stats
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Bucknell won a trio of sets that were determined by the minimum of two points to defeat the Navy volleyball team in four sets Friday night at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis, Md. The Bison prevailed in the two-hour match by scores of 22-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-23.
The first meeting of the season between the teams saw Bucknell escape with a five-set victory over the Mids. Six of the nine sets played between the teams this season were decided by three points or less.
Navy now leads the Patriot League with 23 sets played (out of 31 in all) during the conference season that have been decided by five points or less.
"This was a match that was up for grabs for both teams," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "Just like the first time we played Bucknell, we can't say we didn't have our opportunities tonight. We fought hard and were able to overcome deficits in every set. We just couldn't get that last point at the very end of the set to complete the rallies."
Bucknell (8-12, 6-2 Patriot League) took a 15-10 lead early in the first set, but Navy (7-17, 1-7 Patriot League) went on a 5-0 run to tie the set. The score would again be tied at both 16-16 and 17-17 before the Mids tallied the ensuing three points to build a 20-17 lead. The margin remained at three points before the Bison recorded back-to-back points to close to within 23-22. However, Bucknell attack errors concluded the next two plays to give the first set to the Mids.
The Bison quickly stormed out at the start of the second set to a 7-1 lead, but were immediately caught by the Mids with a 6-0 run of their own. Bucknell soon built an 18-13 lead that quickly became a 24-20 advantage. A Bucknell attack error kept Navy alive in the set, then a kill by Maida Kalic' (Jr., Vernon, N.Y.) pulled the Mids to within two points of the Bison. Another Bucknell attack error made it a one-point game, then a service ace by Holly Berger (Jr., Claremont, Calif.) tied the score at 24-24. Bucknell had another chance to serve for the set when Katie Baumgarten posted a kill, but that was answered by another kill from Kalic'. Baumgarten tallied another kill to give the Bison their sixth chance to serve for the set, which they converted when Kat Tauscher and Heidi Kamp teamed up for a block on Erin Fortner (Fr., Villa Hills, Ky.).
The third set saw the Mids take a 19-16 lead that was quickly erased by a 4-0 run by the Bison. Navy regained the lead at 21-20 on consecutive attack errors by Bucknell. Kills by Baumgarten and Kristen Titley gave Bucknell a 22-21 lead, then back-to-back kills by Kaitlin Roseti (Jr., Williamsville, N.Y.) and Katie Bray (So., Cary, N.C.), respectively, gave the Mids a 23-22 lead. Titley would close out the set with three straight kills to give the Bison a 2-1 lead in sets.
The fourth set saw Bucknell be the team to take a 19-16 advantage. After the Mids tallied consecutive points to make the score 19-18, the teams traded the next six points to allow the Bison to hold a 23-22 lead. A service error by Fortner gave Bucknell the chance to serve for the match, but a kill from Nicole Salmon (Fr., Aurora, Ill.) kept the Mids alive at 24-23. However, Salmon would commit a service error of her own to end the match.
Bucknell held slim leads over Navy in kills (56-52), digs (69-60) and blocks (10.0-8.0) on the night, while the Mids narrowly outhit the Bison by the count of .201-.194. Both teams tallied five service aces, but Navy recorded 10 service errors to six for Bucknell.
Four Mids recorded at least eight kills in the match, with Salmon's 16 pacing the team. Joining her in double figures was Veronica Ffrench (Fr., Milton, Fla.), who posted 13 kills to go along with three service aces. Kalic' finished the night with nine kills and a healthy attack percentage of .364, Berger hauled in 19 digs and Roseti added five blocks.
Titley and Baumgarten posted 19 and 15 kills, respectively, for Bucknell.
Navy will be back on the Wesley A. Brown Field House court Saturday when the Mids play host to Colgate in a 3 p.m. match.
