LORETTO, Pa.—The Bellarmine University volleyball team started its season by posting a set one victory, but the Knights lost the next three to fall 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 21-25, 23-25) to Bucknell in both teams' season openers at a multi-team event hosted by Saint Francis University.
 
The match's waning moments provided some drama as the Knights fended off two match points to creep within 24-23 in fourth set.  However, the Bison's Catherine Jamison got a clean look and put away the kill to secure the match.
 
The match was close throughout, and final statistics reflect just that. The Knights held slim edges in hitting percentage (.188 to .180) and digs (77 to 68) while the Bison recorded one more kill (53-52), block (8-7), and service ace (6-5).
 
Bellarmine Head Coach Rick Nold, who made his program debut tonight, said he saw some things he liked but also saw room for improvement.  "I thought we needed to be more aggressive serving," he said.  "We gave them some free balls and they're good athletes, and they were able to put them away."
 
Nold said he was particularly pleased with what he saw out of freshman Gabby Brissett. "I was happy with the way Gabby played," he said. "She was really terminating." The Coral Gables, Florida native finished with 12 kills while hitting at a .310 clip.  She also added three blocks.
 
Another top individual performance came from outside hitter Jayme Scott, who opened her senior campaign in a familiar fashion by posting a double-double.  She recorded a match-high 15 kills to go along with 13 digs.  The Mercy Academy graduate notched 12 double-doubles last season.
 
Defensively, libero Anna Lococo also picked up where she left off last season.  One of the top liberos in the ASUN a year ago, the Sacred Heart grad amassed a match-high 21 digs against the Bison.  Freshman Tessa Nauert opened her collegiate career with 13 digs, and sophomore transfer Jayda Harris led the Knights with four blocks.
 
Bucknell leaders included Bri Frazilus (14 kills), Allie Lopez (6 blocks), Jordan Hardy (20 digs), and Laura Caro (41 assists).
 
The Knights return to action tomorrow, facing host Saint Francis at 11 a.m. before closing out the event in a 4 p.m. match against Gardner-Webb.
 
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