Bucknell Volleyball Faces Lafayette, Lehigh in Weekend Contests

Oct. 22, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell volleyball team is taking their success from Saturday's 3-0 sweep of Navy on the road when it travels to Lafayette and Lehigh this weekend. The Bison (9-14, 4-3) will face off against Lafayette at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 in Easton, Pa., before heading to Bethlehem, Pa., for a 4 p.m. contest with Lehigh on Saturday, Oct. 25.

BISON VOLLEYBALL NOTEBOOK

About the Opponents

Leading up to its first contest with the Bison in 2008, Lafayette is 7-14 overall and 2-5 in the Patriot League. The Leopards' pair of league wins both came 3-0 over Holy Cross. One of those victories took place last Friday in Worcester, Mass. Lafayette proved to be less fortunate the following day when it fell 3-0 to Army in the Black Knights' home gym.

The Leopards are led offensively at net by sophomore outside hitters Kayly Elmer and Katrina Racibarskas who have amassed 221 and 157 kills, respectively, in the 2008 campaign. The pair is helped by 462 assists (5.85/set) from senior setter Megan Carter. Freshmen Ally Taylor and Alana Taylor are defensive forces for Lafayette with a combined 80 blocks this season.

The Bison split the meetings with Lafayette in 2007, earning a 3-0 sweep in the first match and losing 3-2 in the second. Bucknell retained its all-time series lead, 29-18. Kaitlin Segal recorded double-doubles in both matches with 12 kills and 10 digs in Lewisburg, and 11 kills and 12 digs later in Easton. Shannon Pitsch contributed 47 assists to the cause in the initial meeting. Lafayette's Racibarskas led her team with 15 kills. After tallying 10 kills in the first contest, Heidi Kamp repeated with 10 in the rematch and added four blocks. Amazingly, Pitsch bettered her previous assists total with 49. Racibarskas again was a force for Lafayette, totaling 16 kills. The attacker had some help from Carter's 49 assists and 14 digs and Kari Horn's match-high 26 digs.

Lehigh enters weekend play 7-13 overall and 3-4 in the Patriot League and will play Colgate on Friday before hosting the Bison on Saturday. The Mountain Hawks shared a similar fate with Lafayette last weekend as they defeated Holy Cross 3-0 but were swept by Army. In addition to its two wins over Holy Cross in the 2008 campaign, Lehigh earned a 3-2 win over Lafayette.

Lehigh benefits from a number of young contributors this year. Freshman outside hitter Angelika Kopacz, who was named the Patriot League/Baden Rookie of the Week on Monday, leads the team with 234 kills (3.39/set). Junior outside hitter Mo McReynolds comes in second with 175 (2.54/set). The Mountain Hawks rely on their freshman setter Jessica Kudirka with 402 assists (5.00/set) on the season to distribute the ball. Defensively, Lehigh is led by another pair of freshman, Rebecca Slegers and Chelsea Sheridan who have 42 and 37 blocks, respectively.

Bucknell swept Lehigh in both of their 2007 meetings. Segal and Kamp combined for 20 kills, while Pitsch chipped in 42 assists in the first contest. Pitsch returned in the second match to have one of the most well-rounded outings of her career. In addition to 30 assists, the setter also registered five kills, four service aces and seven digs. Kamp contributed eight kills and four blocks, and Sheena Czipri tallied a then-career high 15 digs. Despite the pair of victories, Bucknell continues to trail Lehigh in the all-time series, 20-35.

Last Time Out

For the second and final time of the season, Bucknell took on American and Navy last weekend. Like their earlier meeting, the Bison dropped a 3-0 decision to American. Bucknell was able to keep the match closer than the first time around but still fell 32-30, 25-17 and 25-21. Segal led the Bison offense with 11 kills and also aided defensively with eight digs in a match that was closer than the score indicated. Freshman Emily Sawanobori recorded a Bison-best 13 digs, while Kamp added six block assists.

Last Saturday ended in another sweep in Davis Gym but with Bucknell winning out over Navy, 25-21, 25-19, 25-20. Freshman Kyleigh McAhren recorded career highs in kills (14) and hitting percentage (.545) as Bucknell swept Navy on Saturday in Davis Gym. Segal was close behind with 13 kills as was Kamp with 11 kills for a .556 hitting percentage (11-1-18). Pitsch totaled 39 assists, the most in a three-set match for the senior this season.

With the win over the Midshipmen, Bucknell's 4-3 Patriot League record is good enough to give the Bison sole possession of third place in the league.

By recording a service ace at 23-20 in the first set against Navy, Pitsch moved into the fifth spot for most aces in a career by a Bison. She now has 129 in nearly four years at Bucknell.

Looking Ahead

Following the weekend, the Bison will be back in action in Hamilton, N.Y., for a matchup at Colgate on Friday, Oct. 31. The contest is slated to begin at 6 p.m.

Bucknell University Athletics

Bucknell Volleyball Faces Lafayette, Lehigh in Weekend Contests

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