BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg volleyball team saw its comeback effort fall short in a five-set defeat to Lock Haven Friday evening in the conference opener for both sides.
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The Huskies (7-4, 0-1 PSAC East) found themselves in an early two-set hole after dropping a contested opening set and then succumbing to the momentum of the contest, allowing the Bald Eagles (7-4, 1-0 PSAC East) to go up early. Bloomsburg displayed tremendous resolve to claw their way back into the match and force a deciding fifth set. In the end, the Huskies did not have enough gas left in the tank to get the final result.
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The defensive desire of the Bloomsburg team allowed them to fight their way back into the contest.
Lydia Worthing (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood Antis) led all players in Friday's contest with nine total blocks (2 solo, 7 assists) for a new career-best total.
Sophie Wales (Port Matilda, Pa./State College) tallied four solo stuffs on her own, adding two block assists for six total.
Katie Kuehl (Aston, Pa./Archmere Academy (Del.)) rounded out a fervent effort at the net with a career-high seven total blocks (2 solo, 5 assists).
Abigail Eagler (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) paced the Huskies in the match with 11 kills and a team-high 13.0 points.
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How It Happened:
The match began with runs by both sides, resulting in several lead changes through the opening part of the set. Bloomsburg looked to build its advantage on the back of an 8-3 run, taking advantage of an unsettled Bald Eagle attack with five attack errors to go out in front, 12-8. Lock Haven found its rhythm on the attacking front within a 5-1 stretch, with four of the five points coming from kills and the fifth from the service line. Even though it seemed like the Huskies were in position to take the first set after finding their way to a 20-15 lead, it was Lock Haven that closed the set on an 8-0 run to nab an early lead.
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The reversal of fortunes in favor of the visitors rattled Bloomsburg at the beginning of the second set, with the Huskies quickly trailing 6-18. An exchange of sideouts saw the score rise to 8-20. A 3-0 run from Bloomsburg was the initial sign of the team's willingness to fight, climbing within as little as four points at 19-23 off the heels of a 5-0 run, once again fueled by miscues from the Bald Eagles. Lock Haven would clean up its in-system play at the end of the set, securing the final two points to go out in front by two sets.
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The Huskies were unwilling to go down without a fight on their home court, and that mindset became evident. Kuehl and
Jessica Rimbo (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) rotating in helped spark a stretch for Bloomsburg that saw the home side go up 13-10 in the third set. With Lock Haven closing within one point, the Huskies rattled off a 5-0 run to see their edge grow to 18-12. The Bald Eagles once more tried to surmount a significant Bloomsburg lead in an effort to sweep the match, but the trio of Kuehl, Wales, and Worthing contributed on three consecutive blocks to set up a set-sealing kill by
Sasha Moody (Abington, PA/Abington Senior).
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The Huskies saved their best attacking set for the fourth to force a 2-2 tie in the match, registering 16 kills to force the fifth. Bloomsburg came out riding the high from the third set, jumping out to a 12-4 advantage in the fourth. The Huskies rattled off five consecutive kills, three of which came off the hand of Kuehl. Lock Haven chipped away at the lead built by Bloomsburg, eventually reclaiming the lead in the set at 18-19 and as late as 21-22. The Huskies dug deep in the final five points, with Eagler delivering on a kill and helping Worthing on a block during the next point, as Worthing herself took the reins with
Lena Jones (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area) on the block to knot the match at two sets apiece.
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In the end, Bloomsburg could not force the sideouts it needed to remain in contact with the Bald Eagles. Lock Haven would utilize its best offensive effort of the match, recording six kills through eight points, while capitalizing on two service errors by the Huskies to secure a 4-8 edge. A short sigh of relief with another Bloomsburg block was not enough to dissuade the Bald Eagles from searching to close out the match, as Lock Haven put the match on the eve of closure with a 6-0 run to stare at a 5-14 match point. A kill from Wales would help the Huskies stave off the final whistle, as the Bald Eagles' mistakes would see the fifth set to 9-14. Lock Haven took advantage of its established breathing room to close out a back-and-forth match with one final kill.
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Number of Note:
18.0 - The 18 total blocks by the Huskies are the most in a match by a Bloomsburg team in program history. The previous record was 15.0 against Chestnut Hill on October 19, 2021.
On the Horizon:
The Huskies are back at Nelson Field House for a PSAC contest against Kutztown on Saturday, September 19, at 1:00 p.m.
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