Bucknell University Athletics
Two Bison Volleyball Players Make First League Team, Two Make Second Team
11/19/2003 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell head volleyball coach Cindy Opalski was announced as the Patriot League's Coach of the Year today, and four of her players made the two all-league teams. Bucknell finished a second-place 11-3 in the Patriot League and 15-12 overall. The Bison beat every team in the Patriot League twice, except for American, who took both matches, and Colgate, with whom Bucknell split.
It is Opalski's third Patriot League Coach of the Year honor, having won in 1997 and 2000. The Bison were the regular-season champions in 1997, and made the NCAA Tournament in 2000. That season was Bucknell's last NCAA Tournament appearance, as well as the season in which Bucknell won 10 Patriot League matches for the only time until this year.
Jackie Leahy (Plainview, N.Y./Bethpage) and Brandi Trapasso (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) made the All-Patriot League's first team. Leahy earns her first all-league honor after leading the Bison in kills, with 389, and currently having the fifth-best season all-time in Bucknell history as measured by kills. She averages 3.93 kills per game, and is 32 kills short of the Bucknell single-season record for kills.
Trapasso is both an offensive and defensive force for the Bison, tallying 329 kills this season. She also has 393 digs, second on the team, and set the Bucknell and Patriot League record for digs in a career earlier this season with 1,570. She was recognized as the Patriot League Volleyball Athlete of the Week on Nov. 10. Trapasso was the defensive player of the year and rookie of the year in 2000, earning her third all-league nod this year after making the second team last year
Breean Trapasso (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) and Chelsea Anderson (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines) were named to the league's second team. Breean Trapasso is Bucknell's setter, and has 1,049 assists this season. She is the only player in Bucknell history to have two 1,000-dig seasons, having recorded 1,103 last year. She was also honored as the league's player of the week on Nov. 3, a week before her sister. Anderson leads the team in digs, with 397. It is the first all-league spot for both.
The Bison will continue their season in the Patriot League Tournament in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. versus third-seeded Lehigh, and with a win, will play the American-Army winner on Sunday at noon.
