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Bucknell Volleyball Falls to American, 3-0, in Patriot League Championship Match
Nov. 18, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. - After an emotional win over Army in Friday's semifinal, the Bucknell volleyball team came up short in the Patriot League Championship match, falling to American, 3-0, in Bender Arena on Saturday evening. The victory gave the Eagles (25-6, 14-0 PL) their sixth straight league title and an automatic bid to the NCAA championship, while the Bison ended the 2006 campaign with a record of 20-12 following the loss. Junior Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) totaled a team-high eight kills for the Orange and Blue and added seven digs. Sophomore Emilie Hardinge (Darien, Conn./Darien) and senior Amanda Grossmann (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) followed with six kills apiece as Grossmann also contributed four block assists, second to only Jennie Smith's (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) five blocks (0-5). Sophomore Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) dished 20 assists along with a match-best three service aces, freshman Rachel Freeman (San Mateo, Calif./San Mateo) led the squad with eight digs and senior Kristen Sydlowski (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) compiled seven digs. Sydlowski, along with Pitsch, represented Bucknell on the Patriot League All-Tournament Team. For American, Rubena Sukaj led the way with 18 kills. Ann Recht totaled 10 kills and hit .667 without an error in 15 attempts, while Ivana Cebakova, Chelsa Brooks and Elizabeth Maloney each posted eight kills. Setters Christina Nash and Maile Krauss chipped in with 23 and 19 assists, respectively, and Tara Stradling paced the Eagles with 11 digs.
The Bison fought hard from the outset as American was unable to pull away until, with the score knotted at nine in game one, the Eagles managed a 6-0 run to jump in front, 15-9. Bucknell closed the gap to three at 16-13, but that would be as close as the Orange and Blue would come as American took the game, 30-22.
In game two, the Eagles built an early seven-point lead, which they would ride to a 30-21 victory. Bucknell refused to quit and remained within one of American at the midway point in game three, 15-14. However, the Eagles rolled off an 8-3 streak to stretch their advantage to six and clinched the Patriot League title with a 30-20 win in the deciding game. "Even though we didn't come away with the result, I'm really pleased with how all of our players competed throughout this tough championship weekend," said Bison head coach Cindy Opalski, "Anna Allison and I couldn't have asked for a better season with our five seniors. Though we are disappointed to not be bringing home a championship, I still feel the season was a very successful one." |
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