Sept. 30, 2006

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Junior Maura Kelly hit .400 with 11 kills and four blocks to lead Lafayette to its fourth straight win in a key Patriot League match-up against Bucknell on Saturday night at Kirby Sports Center. Lafayette swept the Bison, 3-0, en route to their third league win and ninth overall.

Lafayette (9-5, PL 3-1) made a statement early with a 30-12 opening-game win. The Leopards hit for a match-best .462 percentage and controlled throughout the session. Lafayette relied on the serving consistency of junior Michaela Donohue and Kelly early on, jumping ahead 11-4 on a kill from sophomore setter Megan Carter to senior middle Shannon Fisher. Lafayette cruised from there, leading by as many as 14, 23-9, which followed five straight service points from freshman libero Kari Horn.

Bucknell (10-8, PL 2-2) made things interesting in easily the tightest game of the match. Lafayette maintained the lead through the majority of play, but Bucknell managed to knot the score eight times. The final tie game on the 23rd point, as Lafayette was charged with an error. From there, the Leopards outscored Bucknell 7-4 to take the game, 30-27. A pair of kills from senior Veronica Canto-Ponce and freshman Cara Mulholland highlighted the stretch.

The Leopards rolled out to an 11-4 lead early in game three, as Canto-Ponce served for five straight points, including three aces, before Bucknell called timeout. The Bison came charging back midway through, trimming the deficit to five, 15-10, on a kill from Kristen Sydlowski. The Leopards kept composure, however, and again pulled away to take the game, 30-21.

Canto-Ponce led all players with 15 kills, while hitting for a .394 percentage. She completed her fifth double-double of the season with 15 digs. Mulholland came away with nine kills, while Donohue and Fisher managed seven and six, respectively. The Leopards hit for a .302 percentage, while holding Bucknell to a .103 percentage.

The Leopards return to action with a non-conference battle with NJIT on Wednesday at 7 p.m.