Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Volleyball to Face Maryland Eastern Shore at Home in Midweek Contest
9/17/2007 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 17, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell will continue its seven-match homestand as the Bison will take on Maryland Eastern Shore this Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. in Davis Gym. Coming off a 1-2 weekend at its own invitational tournament, Bucknell currently holds a record of 6-7 on the season.
BISON VOLLEYBALL NOTEBOOK
About the Bison
- Senior Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) leads the
Bison in kills per game (4.63) and in hitting percentage (.279), while also contributing 2.67 digs per game. Her kills per game average ranks second in the Patriot League and 27th nationally. She is currently sixth in the league in hitting percentage.
- Freshman Jocelyn VanOpdorp (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville) has a team-best average of 3.23 digs per game. She posted a season high with 20 at Cornell on Sept. 7 and leads all Patriot League freshmen in digs per game average, good for seventh overall in the league.
- Freshman Heidi Kamp (Springfield, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) has a team-high in blocks per game (0.54) with a total of 25 on the year. She ranks second among the freshmen in the PL with a .266 hitting percentage, which is 10th overall.
- Junior Emilie Hardinge (Darien, Conn./Darien) leads the team in service aces with 17 for an average of 0.37 per game. She is eighth in the Patriot League in kills per game with 3.04.
- Junior setter Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) is averaging 11.32 assists per game to lead the Bison and the league.
Bison Milestones
- Cindy Opalski coached in her 500th match as head coach of the Bison on Sept. 1 at Duquesne. Then when Bucknell topped Morgan State, 3-1, on Sept. 5, it gave Opalski her 350th career victory. She is currently 352-275 in 21 seasons as a head coach.
- Henderson tallied her 1,000th career kill in game three of Bucknell's match at Air Force on Sept. 25. She now ranks fourth in Bison history with 1184 and needs 11 to pass Jackie Leahy for third on the list. Henderson is 193 shy of the Bucknell record.
- Pitsch is fourth on Bucknell's career assist list with 2,289. She needs 282 to pass Breean Trapasso for third in the record books.
Scouting the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks
- The Hawks are 5-3 on the season and carry a three-match winning streak into Tuesday's contest.
- Bucknell is the second Patriot League team UMES has faced this year as the Hawks recorded a 3-2 win in their meeting with Lafayette. They also have posted victories over Coppin State (3-0), Manhattan (3-1), George Washington (3-1) and Morgan State (3-1).
- Whitney Johnson paces the Hawks offensively with an average of 3.91 kills per game and a .211 hitting percentage.
- Christina Estebane is currently averaging 9.25 assists per game and 0.81 service aces per game, both which are team highs. She also contributes 3.25 digs per game.
- Caylin Woodward leads UMES with 3.38 digs per game, while Adora Luster has a squad-best 20 blocks (0.62 per game).
- Bucknell holds a 2-0 advantage all-time against the Hawks since the teams first met in 1994.
At the Bucknell Invitational
- In its home debut, Bucknell posted a 1-2 record at the Bucknell Invitational, defeating Saint Francis (Pa.), 3-0, but dropping a 3-2 decision to Radford and a 3-0 decision to Stony Brook. Hardinge set new career highs in kills (27) and digs (16) in the match against Radford and earned a spot on the all-tournament team along with Henderson. Freshmen Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Laguna Creek) led the Bison in kills in the win over the Red Flash, posting her highest total of the season with 15 as she hit .400. Kamp set a new personal best in the match as well with a .688 hitting percentage (11-0-16), while senior Tessa Mendez (Denver, Colo./Colorado Academy) recorded a career high in blocks with four against Saint Francis (Pa.).
At the Cornell Invitational
- Bucknell went 1-2 at the Cornell Invitational, posting a 3-0 win against Niagara, but falling to Cornell and Siena by 3-1 margins. Hardinge set a new career high in hitting percentage in the victory over the Purple Eagles (.462, 16-4-26) and was named to the all-tournament team. Segal and Kelsey Lisle (Marriottsville, Md./Seton Keough) both enjoyed breakout weekends. Segal hit .588 with 10 kills (10-0-17) against Niagara and posted her first career double-double versus Siena with 11 kills and 11 digs. Lisle had 10 kills in Bucknell's match against Cornell and closed out the weekend with 22 digs versus Siena.
At the Duquesne/Robert Morris Courtyard by Marriott Invitational
- The Bison came away from the Duquesne/Robert Morris Tournament with a 2-1 record on the weekend, posting 3-0 wins over Robert Morris and UNC Greensboro and falling to Duquesne, 3-2. Henderson was named to the Courtyard by Marriott Duquesne/RMU Invitational All-Tournament Team. Hardinge set a new career high with five aces at Duquesne, sophomore Jennifer Rupp (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) posted a new career best with 22 digs in the same match. Henderson, Mendez and Pitsch all matched their career highs in kills versus the Dukes with totals of 23, eight and seven, respectively.
At the Air Force Invitational
- The Bison opened up 2007 at the Air Force Invitational in USAF Academy, Colo., on Aug. 24-25, going 1-2 on the weekend with a win over Chicago State. Shannon Pitsch represented Bucknell on the Air Force Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 10.44 assists per game and 0.44 service aces per game over the three matches.
2007 Awards and Honors
- Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week - Jenna Henderson (9/10/07)
- Patriot League Player of the Week - Jenna Henderson (9/10/07)
- ECAC Volleyball Player of the Week - Jenna Henderson (9/13/07)
- Patriot League Honorable Mention - Jenna Henderson (8/27/07 & 9/4/07)
- All Tournament Teams - Shannon Pitsch (Air Force Invitational), Jenna Henderson (Courtyard by Marriott Duquesne/RMU Invitational, Bucknell Invitational), Emilie Hardinge (Cornell Invitational, Bucknell Invitational)
Up Next
- Bucknell will open Patriot League play this weekend with matches against Lehigh and Lafayette on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 21-22, at home in Davis Gym at 7 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
