Volleyball Snags Patriot League Win at Bucknell

Friday, September 19

Lewisburg, Pa.

7:00 PM

Army West Point

5-9, 1-1PL

Bucknell

1-8, 0-1PL

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Army	14	25	25	25	3
Bucknell	25	21	23	17	1

Volleyball Snags Patriot League Win at Bucknell

September 19, 2014 | Volleyball

Box Score

Sept. 19, 2014

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Army volleyball team overcame a slow start by winning sets two, three and four, en route to a 3-1 defeat of Bucknell on Friday night at Davis Gym. After dropping the first set 14-25, Army stormed back with set victories of 25-21, 25-23 and 25-17.

Army improved to 1-1 in Patriot League play and 5-9 on the year. The loss dropped Bucknell to 0-1 in the conference and 1-8 overall.

“This win was about us being mentally strong and we succeed with that tonight,” head coach Alma Kovaci said. “Carolyn Bockrath did an excellent job offensively and Vanessa Edwards was able to find her. The great thing was that everyone who came into the match off the bench did an excellent job, especially defensively. We are still showing signs of youth and are learning how to play together, but our depth is certainly one of our strengths.”

Bockrath, the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week, led Army with 17 kills and posted a .364 hitting percentage. Amber Clay and Nicole Perri each converted 10 kills, while Edwards posted her fourth double-double of the season with 49 assists and 10 digs. Senior Deanna Dalton paced the Black Knights’ defense with 16 digs, classmate Kristen Smeland added 12 and rookie Megan Bryn had 11.

After falling 25-14 in the first set, Army jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead in the second set. The edge stretched to five points at 8-3 on Molly McDonald’s kill and Army never trailed in the game. Bucknell pulled within three (10-7), but Army put down seven of the next eight points to take complete control of the set. The run included kills by Bockrath, Edwards and Olivia Fairfield, who finished the match with seven kills.

The closest set of the match was the third, where Army tipped the scales in its favor. Bucknell held a 5-2 cushion early on, but Army fired back with four of the next five points to tie the score at 6-6. With the score deadlocked at 10-10, four consecutive points by the Bison forced Army to call timeout. The stoppage worked for the Black Knights as they ripped off four straight to tie the score once again at 14 apiece. At 20-20 after ties at 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 all, a kill by Clay put Army on top for good as it held off the Bison to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

At 9-9 in the fourth set, Army put together an 8-1 run to take complete control of the set and the match. Clay contributed three kills during the stretch and two more as Army closed out the match with the 25-17 triumph.

Army faces a quick turnaround as the Black Knights travel to Bethlehem, Pa. for a 4 p.m. match against Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks own a 2-0 Patriot League record following tonight’s 3-0 win over Holy Cross.