EASTON, Pa. – For just the third time this season, and first time in Patriot League play, the Lafayette College volleyball team reached the fifth set, but ultimately fell to Bucknell (22-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-23, 10-15) Friday night inside Kirby Sports Center.
 
Four Leopards reached double-digit kills led by sophomore Abby Nieporte's 15, senior Mataya Megson's 12 and four blocks, senior Grace Steurer's double-double of 10 kills and 23 digs and freshman Carol Ulichney's 11 with three blocks.  
 
Lafayette got off to the fast start, using a 4-0 run with Megson at the service line to jump out to an 18-10 lead and force a Bison timeout. Bucknell answered with five-straight of its own before the game-changing 8-0 run to pull away and claim the opener.
 
The Leopards weathered the storm and responded after a 6-0 Bucknell spurt midway through the second with a 5-0 run and a 4-0 run sandwiching a Bison point to regain the lead. Back-to-back kills by Nieporte closed out the set and evened the match at one apiece.
 
Nieporte tallied nine of her 15 kills in the second game alone, facing off against her sister, Libby, a junior on Bucknell.
 
After the Bison cruised two a third-set victory, the Leopards responded again, holding Bucknell to just a 0.95 attack percentage in the fourth while managing six total blocks to force a fifth set.
 
Lafayette had its Patriot League season-best 8.0 blocks on the night.
 
Lafayette gained the early advantage, 7-4, in the final set, but Bucknell edged back into the frame and scored the match's final five points to close it out.
 
Sophomore Anna Penman had a career-high 41 assists with five kills while Megson's 12 kills were a career best, hitting .423 on the night.
 
The Leopards will get a day off before traveling to Lehigh for The Rivalry on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Bethlehem.