Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Volleyball to Face Navy and American at Home This Weekend in Two Key Patriot League Matches
10/13/2006 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell volleyball team will take on Patriot League foes Navy and American at home in Davis Gym this weekend on Friday, Oct. 13, and Saturday, Oct. 14, with both matches set to begin at 7 p.m. Friday's contest against the Midshipmen will be broadcast live by Doug Birdsong on WVBU 90.5.
Friday's match marks the 30th meeting all-time between Bucknell and Navy. Since the teams first met in 1981, the Mids lead the series 16-13. Last season, the Bison defeated Navy, 3-2 in Annapolis, Md., but fell to the Midshipmen, 3-0 at home in the last match between the squads on Oct. 21, 2005, in Davis Gym. Navy is currently 8-11 on the year with a 2-3 PL record.
Saturday, the Bison will take on the Eagles for the 28th time in the series, which began in 1989. Bucknell is 1-16 all-time against American and narrowly missed knocking the defending Patriot League champions out of the PL tournament last year, falling 3-2 in the semifinal match last November, which was the last meeting between the squads. The Eagles, who will face Colgate on Friday evening before traveling to Lewisburg on Saturday, enter the weekend at 13-6, 5-0 in the Patriot League.
The Bison (12-9, 3-2 PL), who picked up a 3-1, mid-week victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Tuesday, will be looking to extend their current two-match winning streak this weekend. Bucknell is 4-1 at home in 2006 and is led offensively by reigning Patriot League Player of the Week junior Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) who is averaging 3.70 kills per game over 21 matches and 4.67 kills per game against league opponents. Henderson has also posted six double-doubles this season and is averaging 2.56 digs per game. Senior Sarah Groman (Hollister, Calif./San Benito) follows with 2.57 kills per game to go along with 43 blocks (0.74 per game), while classmate Jennie Smith (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) leads the squad with 60 blocks (0.88 per game) and has 18 services aces on the year.
Sophomore setter Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) is averaging 10.08 assists per game, 11.12 per game in league matches, and senior libero Kristen Sydlowski (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) leads Bucknell in digs with 394 (5.71 per game) and in service aces with 29 (0.42 per game). Sydlowski has seven service aces against Patriot League competition and has averaged 6.44 digs per game in those matches.
For the Mids, Nikki England paces the squad with an average of 3.03 kills per game, Jessie Sims is averaging 4.00 digs per game and Megan Boyd has a team best 60 blocks (0.91 per game).
Entering this weekend's matches, Rubena Sukaj leads American with 337 kills (4.88 per game) and Ivana Cebakova has 320 digs for an average of 4.57 per game. Chelsa Brooks is contributing 1.29 blocks per game and has a hitting percentage of .359, which leads the squad.
Bucknell is amidst an eight match homestand and will continue the stretch with two more home Patriot League contests next weekend, Oct. 20 and 21, against Army and Holy Cross.
