LEWISBURG, Pa.- Despite a pair of Explorers finding a 17 kill performance each in Bryanna Davis and Devin Corah, the La Salle volleyball team was edged in a five set heartbreaker to Bucknell on Friday, August 25 in Lewisburg, Pa.
 
Bucknell defended their court on day one of the Bucknell Invitational, topping the Explorers 3-2 (25-21, 20-25,17-25, 25-17, 15-8).
 
After the Bison captured the first set in a tight 25-21 finish, the Explorers came storming back to take the next two sets to lead by one. But the Bison would not let up, as the team took the fourth set in a mirrored 17-25 finish to lead the scoreboard at a draw.
 
In the tiebreaker set, the Bison jumped ahead by four to grab the lead. After a La Salle timeout, the Explorers crawled back with a pair of kills from freshman Samantha Graver and three from Davis.
 
The Explorers were unable to recover, as Bucknell stood their ground to outlast the Blue and Gold to take home the first game of the invitational.
 
With starting middle blocker Catherine Edgington sidelined by knee injury, the Explorers were without the essential defender to help La Salle protect the court.
 
The three freshman appeared in their first collegiate game to put on a strong showing. Graver was the third Explorer to record double digit kills, with 10, while adding 10 digs. Reilly Lowe recorded a pair of block assist, along with four digs, while Alyssa Cianciulli posted two of La Salle's five aces.
 
Sophomore Corah recorded three aces in additional to the 17 kills, while adding eight digs. Libero Jensen Sharrits tallied 19 digs, while setter Katherine Wood recorded 39 assist and seven digs.
 
The Explorers will return to the court in a quick turnaround for day two of the Bucknell Invitational, when the team faces Iona at 10:00 a.m. before going up against NJIT at 5:30 p.m.