Nov. 5, 2005
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette volleyball team could not withstand an aggressive Bucknell team Saturday afternoon, as the Leopards fell 3-0 at Kirby Sports Center. The loss gives Lafayette a split over the Patriot League weekend after defeating Colgate, 3-0, on Friday night.
The Leopards (15-14, 4-9 PL) opened the match with three straight points in game one, but Bucknell (16-12, 8-5 PL) was able to crawl back and tie the score at 7-7 after winning a long rally on a kill from Kristen Sydlowski. The Bison rattled off the next four points to take an 11-7 lead. The Leopards would never recover and dropped game one, 30-19.
Lafayette took an early 4-2 lead in game two, following back-to-back kills from junior Veronica Canto-Ponce. However, the Bison got right back into things, and the teams exchanged points in the early going. Lafayette took over the lead, 14-13, midway through on an ace from freshman Audrey O'Donnell. The rookie registered two aces in the stretch, while serving five straight points to give the Leopards the advantage. The ensuing possessions included three ties, but three straight aces from Bucknell's Chelsea Anderson gave the Bison a 19-17 lead that they would not relinquish. Lafayette continued clawing for points, inching within four, 29-25, on a pair of Canto-Ponce kills. Unfortunately, Bucknell took session 30-25.
In game three, Lafayette struggled to get its offense started in the early going, falling behind by as many as five, 11-6. The deficit became too much for the Leopards to recover from, as Bucknell took its most decisive win in 30-17 fashion.
Bucknell hit .260 and held the Leopards to a .111 hitting percentage. For the second straight game, Canto-Ponce led Lafayette with 14 kills and hit .278 on the day. Three Bucknell players registered 12 kills in the win.
Canto-Ponce completed the double-double with a team-high 18 digs, while O'Donnell followed up with 12. Freshman setter Megan Carter ended the day with a match-high 28 assists.
Lafayette closes out the regular season at home on Friday, Nov. 11 as the team takes on archrival Lehigh at 7 p.m.
