LEWISBURG, Pa. - Lafayette faced off against Bucknell on Saturday evening, with the Bison claiming a 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 19-25, 25-16) victory. Senior Abby Nicholson led the offensive attack with a career-high 12 kills. Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo racked up 10 kills of her own, bringing her season total to 244.

The two teams exchanged scores throughout the majority of the opening set. In the middle of the period, Bucknell capitalized on a Bri Frazilus kill to break a 17-17 tie. The Maroon and White responded through Jada Aksu, who slapped down a kill to begin a brief three-point spurt. After a Bison attack error, Feczko tallied one of her four kills in set one to push the Leopard lead to 20-18. Lafayette and Bucknell swapped attack errors (21-19) prior to the hosts' four-point run. Bella Rodriguez was responsible three scores, all of which came via kills. Ulichney notched a kill of her own (23-22), but back-to-back kills from Tijana Kostic and Sidney Shaffer solidified the first set score of 25-22.

The Bison used a flurry of three-point stretches in set two for a 25-18 final in set two. Bucknell netted five separate runs of three points, while striking down 17 kills to just six attack errors. Nicholson sent five balls down to the floor for kills, while Mbeche-Odhiambo and McKenzie chipped in two kills each. Mackenzie Calhoun and Sophia Wilson added five assists apiece.

The first 10 points of the third set were split evenly before the hosts captured three of the following four points (8-6). Ulichney and McKenzie knotted the score at eight with a kill and service ace, respectively. Bucknell used a service error to gain a 9-8 advantage. The lead was the last of the set, as the Maroon and White's offense sparked runs of four and six points to gain momentum. Down the stretch, the Bison worked the deficit down to 22-19. Immediately after, the Leopards closed out the set courtesy of kills from Nicholson and Mbeche-Odhiambo to take the third period 25-19.

Bucknell wrapped up the match in the fourth set behind a .435 hitting percentage. The opponents knocked down 12 kills, in comparison to just two errors en route to a 25-16 victory in the set. Shaffer finished the match with 17 kills, five of which came in the period.

The Leopards return to Kirby Sports Center on Nov. 8, hosting Army at 6 p.m. in a conference matchup.


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