The American University volleyball team (14-4, 4-2) lost to the Bucknell Bison (14-1, 6-0) at home on Oct. 4 in five sets. The match saw American come back from a two set deficit to take the game to a decisive fifth, but fall just short of claiming victory.
This match marked American’s first home game since their five-set-victory over Howard University on Sept. 10. Since that point, they played seven games on the road, posting a 5-2 record without being swept in either loss. Bucknell’s season began with a loss to the University of Toledo University, but since then the Bison have not lost a match, taking 12 straight leading into their matchup with the Eagles.
Before the game began, senior setter Esma Sipahi and senior libero Bridget Javitch were recognized for reaching milestone statistics in their respective careers at American. Sipahi hit the 2,000 assist mark in the team’s matchup against University of California, Riverside on Aug. 31, and Javitch notched her 1,000th dig during the first leg of American’s road stretch at the Campbell Invitational.
The Eagles got off to a slow start, letting Bucknell gain a small lead before inching their way back, reaching ties at six separate points in the set. A duo of kills from the Bison put the set away quickly after that point, leaving Bucknell up 1-0 by a score of 26-24.
The same was true for the second set, but the Bison capitalized on their early lead against American, forcing the Eagles to take both their timeouts in the first 11 points of the set. This set also saw sophomore outside hitter Sofia Osterdahl pick up steam, getting herself to the seven-kill mark before the set ended, another Eagles loss by the score of 25-19.
Down two sets to none, American played like they had nothing left to lose. Thirteen of the Eagles’ 25 points from this set came off of kills, four from freshman outside hitter Zedo Yilmaz, five from Osterdahl, two from senior middle blocker Lilou Stegeman and another two from freshman middle blocker Elise Sterling. After the Eagles found their swings, Bucknell’s tight defense could not find its footing. American took the third set 25-20.
Kills, aces, blocks and more were coming the Eagles’ way in the fourth set. Still playing in sudden death, American found their way to another set victory, 25-21. The match was headed to a fifth set as the fans in Bender Arena held their breath in anticipation.
After those two flurries of sets to bring them back into the game, American ran out of energy. While they were still making swings in the deciding set, Bucknell had answers for everything. The Bison’s energy carried them to a 15-7 set win and 3-2 match victory on the road.
Osterdahl led the team in kills for the match with 19, followed by Yilmaz with 17 and Stegeman with 13. Sipahi posted 41 assists in the game, while freshman setter Deniz Dakak saw playing time, putting up 15. Freshman libero Bella Marrero led in digs with 27.
After the game, head coach Ahen Kim praised his team and the fight they had to come back from 0-2 to take the match to a fifth set. He also had an outlook about the team’s standing going forward.
“I think we’re in a good place,” Kim said. “We’ve shown flashes of playing championship volleyball, the goal is to sustain those flashes into runs, and turn those runs into wins.”
After a home match against Lafayette on Oct. 5 and a road game against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on Oct. 11, the Eagles return home to face the Army Black Knights on Oct. 12.
This article was edited by Penelope Jennings, Delaney Hoke and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks and Emma Brown.
