Black Knights Sweep Bison

Friday, September 17

West Point, NY

7 PM

Army West Point

7-3,1-0Patriot

Bucknell

4-6,0-1Patriot

Bucknell

Army West Point

September 17, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

MATCH 10
SCORE	Army 3, Bucknell 0
RECORDS	Army (7-3, 1-0) \| Bucknell (4-6, 0-1)
LOCATION	Gillis Field House

WEST POINT, N.Y. --- Army West Point volleyball opened Patriot League play with a sweep over Bucknell on Friday night in Gillis Field House. Cate Buckingham and Diana Ethridge each recorded double-doubles, while the team finished with a season-high of 16 blocks, one away from the tying the single match record.

Bucknell took off in the first set, leading 10-5 at the first timeout. Army fought back, going on a 7-0 run to bring the score to 14-14. Sayler Butters fired off three service aces during the run to help the Black Knights stay in the set. The teams traded points, but Army pulled away to set point, to capture the win 28-26 over Bucknell. Savannah Bray and Paige Fixemer each finished with three kills. Fixemer also recorded two block assists for the team.

Army brought its momentum from set one into set two, going on a 6-0 run. The Cadets continued to dominate at the net with help from Kingsley Wallace, Buckingham and Bray. The Black Knights took the set 25-17 to lead 2-0 in the match. Wallace finished the set with five kills and a .714 hitting percentage. Bray recorded four kills and four digs for the team.

The Black Knights capitalized on Bucknell's errors early to claim an 8-4 lead at the first timeouts. The Bison came out with energy to go on a 5-0 run. The teams continued to trade points until Kai Nickerson and Buckingham teamed up for a block that ignited a run for the Cadets. Army took the set 25-21 ending it on a block from Nickerson and Wallace.

Coach's Corner

"Bucknell is a really good team, I am very proud of our team for finding a way to win that first set," said head coach Alma Kovaci Lee. "That fist set win showed grit, determination and our belief in each other. We did a good job touching ball on blocks. I thought Sayler [Butters] was fantastic today. Another player that is showing so much growth is Kingsley Wallace, she played great today! Cate [Buckingham] kept us steady throughout the match. Now we get ready to play a tough Lehigh team tomorrow."

Cadet's Corner

"I'm really glad the team was able to pull ourselves together. We persevered through a tough game and close out in three sets" – Cate Buckingham

Inside the Box Score

Cate Buckingham recorded 10 kills and 11 digs for her first double-double of the season.
Diana Ethridge notched her third double-double of the season with 30 assists and 12 digs.
Savannah Bray finished with 11 kills her sixth match with double-digit kills.
The Black Knights finished with 16 blocks, one away from the single match record.
Sayler Butters finished with three service aces.