Bucknell University Athletics
Hopes High for Bison Volleyball Team in 2003
8/19/2003 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 19, 2003
Ask Cindy Opalski about the prospects of her 2003 Bucknell Bison volleyball team, and the veteran head coach's face lights up at the thought of the potential this unit possesses. With 12 letterwinners returning from last year's 15-12 team, Opalski believes this year's edition of the Bison has the makeup required to recapture the championship glory first tasted by the 1998 and 2000 Bucknell teams.
As the 2003 season opener at Cal-State Fullerton's tournament nears, Opalski envisions a deep team that is balanced by a handful of well-established veterans and a solid mix of younger players, several of whom have the potential to blossom into stars.
"I am extremely excited about this team, because as I sit and think about potential lineups, there are a whole host of possibilities," says Opalski, Bucknell's winningest volleyball coach who enters her 14th season at the helm of the Bison. "For the first time in several years - really since our last championship team in 2000 - we have a lot of depth. It remains to be seen how that depth will pan out. Will the veterans go back to the top of the list of statistical leaders in the Patriot League, and really carry this team on their backs? Will a young player who has yet to make a major impact raise her game to a championship level?"
Perhaps the most recognizable of the returning cast are the team's lone seniors - identical twins Brandi and Breean Trapasso. In what was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year in 2002, the Trapasso sisters, along with then-seniors Melanie Ghiz and Jennifer Wrigley, quickly squelched that notion and elevated the Bison to a 9-5 league record and a berth in the Patriot League semifinals. One of the top defensive players in school history, Brandi Trapasso will again be a "go-to" player for the Orange and Blue. Brandi, who is on pace to become Bucknell's all-time digs leader, was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection this year. Also a solid offensive player, Opalski notes that her defensive abilities have gotten so strong that opponents are forced to tailor their attack away from her spot on the floor.
Breean Trapasso will handle the bulk of the setting chores for the second straight season. Like her sister a former Verizon Academic All-District selection, Breean is a skilled playmaker who ranked second in the Patriot League in assists last season. Her 1,103 helpers ranked second on Bucknell's all-time single-season list.
After leading the Patriot League with 18.3 digs per game a year ago, back-row defense should again be a major strength for the Bison. In addition to Brandi Trap-asso, who led the loop in digs, sophomore Chelsea Anderson will return to the libero position, where she excelled as a rookie a year ago. Anderson was second on the team and fourth in the league in digs with 350 last season, and she will again be a major part of Opalski's defensive strategy. Junior Carolyn Dougherty and sophomore Jessica Le are also talented defensive specialists who could see plenty of action.
"I am very confident in this team's ability to keep the ball in play, but offensively, both blocking and hitting, we lost about half of our production from last year," says Opalski. "We need a player or two to step up and carry us like Mel Ghiz [team-highs 408 kills and 87 blocks] did last year."
Junior outside hitter Jackie Leahy and sophomore middles Becky Fisher and Jessica Bissett are prime candidates to take on such a role. Leahy has collected just under 400 kills in her first two seasons with the Bison and has shown signs of being a true terminator. A big season from Leahy could be vital to Bucknell's fortunes. Fisher and Bissett both have all the tools to be standout performers, and both are coming off big spring seasons.
Another returning six-footer in the middle is sophomore Courtney Clark, a terrific athlete who will battle for a spot in the rotation. Junior Chelsea Robertson was slowed by an injury last year, but could make a significant contribution on the right side this fall.
Sophomores Christie Keil and Amanda Rowe will also battle for increase playing time in their second seasons.
The Bison will also be boosted by an exciting recruiting class that features a trio of six-foot-plus middles in Sarah Groman, Jennie Smith and Cindy Lowe, a pair of athletic outside hitters in Amanda Grossmann and Kristen Sydlowski, along with a setter in Allison Brady. "Overall, this class is very established athletically," says Opalski. "The majority of the Class of 2007 were multi-sport athletes in high school, all from very successful programs. Although their impact will be affected by their ability to acclimate themselves to a much faster and more explosive collegiate game, this class has the potential to make us a much better team."
The Bison will again use three early season tournaments to prepare for what should be a grueling Patriot League schedule. Last season Bucknell finished third in the regular season standings with a 9-5 mark, but only two games separated second place from fifth place. American, which has posted 14-0 legaue marks in each of its first two years in the Patriot League, and Lehigh (10-4) went 1-2 for the second straight year, and both teams should again be very strong, while Army and Navy are both much-improved and should challenge Bucknell, Lehigh and American for the four-team postseason tournament.
"A big barometer for our success is going to be the physical condition in which our players report to preseason camp," says Opalski, whose team opens its campaign at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Classic. "We must come back in quality physical condition. That happens for most players, but for a team that is going to rely on its depth, it must happen for everyone. I feel really good about the chemistry and work ethic this team has shown this off-season. This is very exciting for us because of the quality people in our program."
