Bucknell University Athletics
Volleyball Opens Season at Central Connecticut State Invitational
8/28/2008 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 28, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell volleyball team kicks off its 2008 season at the Central Connecticut State Invitational in New Britain, Conn. The Bison's first matchup will be against the host team at 7 p.m. on Friday. Play continues at 10 a.m. on Saturday against Iona and at 2:30 p.m. in a bout with Stony Brook.
The Bison will rely on a combination of eight returning players and six freshmen to improve on their fifth-place finish in the Patriot League in 2007. The squad finished the season at 12-17 overall and 5-9 in conference play.
Stony Brook, which recorded a 24-8 overall record in 2007, earned a 3-0 victory over Bucknell at the Bucknell Invitational last year. The Bison took the 3-0 win over the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State (23-7) in their last match in 2000. The matchup with Iona (13-19) will renew a Bucknell-leading 5-1 series that has not been played since 1982.
Following its season opener, Bucknell will have a week to prepare for the second of four season-opening tournaments. The squad will travel to Chicago for the Loyola-Chicago Invitational on Sept. 5.
2008 Season Preview
With little more than half the roster made up of players returning from the 2007 season, the Bucknell Bison will face some early challenges as they put together the pieces of their 2008 volleyball team. The fountain of youth was generous with the program, however, providing the squad with a solid group of freshmen who bring the final pieces of the puzzle to Lewisburg.
"We've got a whole bunch of really great pieces, but it's the job of the coaching staff and the job of the team to figure out how those pieces will best fit together. We've got to develop a team unity to put that puzzle together, to maximize the effectiveness of each one of the pieces," said head coach Cindy Opalski. "I'm happy about the puzzle because I think we've got great pieces. I'm happy about the long-term vision and what the puzzle picture is going to look like because I think we have the capability to go out and play for a championship. Our success is going to be determined on how quickly we can coordinate fitting the pieces together in that puzzle."
Creating a solid framework for the puzzle will be a team of three setters made up of senior co-captain Shannon Pitsch, junior co-captain Allison Gittings and sophomore Rachel Rodriguez. The trio provides the Bucknell offense a great amount of flexibility.
"The good news is that you're usually as good as your setter is, and we have a really outstanding team of setters this year," said Opalski. "The position is very multidimensional in that we can change up those three people in that rotation at any time and I don't think we miss a beat. That's really good news for us."
Pitsch, who in 2006 set the university's single-season record for assists with 1,199 and starts the 2008 campaign 241 assists short of becoming the all-time school record holder, enters her final year at Bucknell as one of the most experienced setters in the Patriot League. The team will depend on her ability to control play at the net in order for it to be successful.
"Shannon is in terrific physical condition, is really focused mentally, has all the tools to be the top of the conference this year in terms of her assist production," said Opalski.
Gittings experienced a breakthrough at the position last season, particularly after a strong outing against Holy Cross in November. Gittings registered one of her highest assist totals of the season with 12 in the game. The Maryland native brings an excellent athleticism and rare strength as both an effective setter and blocker.
The youngest of the three setters, Rodriguez contributes a wealth of speed and consistency to the position. That combination of strengths will be especially helpful to the team.
"If you ask any coach in any sport if they could pick out two things in their athletes that really would be most beneficial in contributing to a team's success it would be consistency and speed," said Opalski.
With six players standing six feet or taller, the Bucknell squad will field a formidable front line in 2008. Key to the front-line attack are 6'1" sophomore Heidi Kamp and 6' junior Lindsay Smith.
"For the first time in a long time, we can put big people in significant matchup positions," said Opalski. "We feel that Heidi and Lindsay in particular, along with some of the height in our freshman class, can really make an impact on our front-line play this year."
With the graduation of last year's co-captain and first-team All-Patriot League selection Jenna Henderson, Kamp will be called on to put up big numbers in the kills and blocks statistical categories again. The middle blocker led all Bison with 81 blocks and finished the season third on the team in kills with 240.
"As a middle, she is extremely athletic. She has the ability to attack zones in front of and behind the setter, so she's very versatile," said Opalski. "Heidi has returned to campus in great physical condition and it clearly has enhanced her mobility and effectiveness in the front line."
Smith will play alongside Kamp as a right side and middle hitter. Smith finished the spring season on a high note last year, demonstrating her ability to be a force at the net. Bucknell will rely on the Colorado native's strong blocking and overall team play.
"Lindsay is one of those few players who have the ability to create a consensus around her," said Opalski. "She draws people together. She keeps people focused. She has that ability to make people around her play better."
Senior Liz Hazuka and sophomore Kaitlin Segal round out the Bison's roster of go-to offensive players. Hazuka is primed for a break-through season as she tries to bounce back from a series of injuries that have limited her production in past years.
"Liz has really struggled in terms of meeting her potential because of injuries. She has developed a tenacious attitude and work ethic because of that," said Opalski.
Segal completed a strong freshman campaign in 2007 that resulted in an average of two blocks per game and a Patriot League Rookie of the Week selection. She will be asked to carry a heavy load again in the new season as the Bison will depend on her versatility and ability to attack from both the front and back lines. She is touted as a smart hitter who is skilled at attacking the block.
"After a strong spring season and with a commitment to a heightened level of fitness, Kaitlin is methodically carving out a role as a `go-to' performer this fall," said Opalski.
Rounding out the team's veterans is senior co-captain Sheena Czipri. Like Hazuka, the libero also is returning from injuries. The Bison will rely on her defensive prowess if their quick style of offense is to be effective.
"That particular offense is really contingent upon our defensive people. So we're going to need people like Sheena Czipri to step up and do an outstanding job on the back line," said Opalski.
The group of six newcomers will be key pieces to this season's puzzle. Featuring Californians Kayleigh McAhren and Katie Baumgarten as well as the Arizona native, Anne Ellenberger, Bucknell's front line should develop into one of the most dominant in the league. Already in preseason play, the six-footers in McAhren and Baumgarten have proved to be quick learners and great teammates. As the team's tallest player, the 6'3" Ellenberger is expected to have an early impact for the Bison.
"We looked at Anne as a kid with a lot of potential, but her potential is developing quite quickly," said Opalski. "I think we have a lot of things to be really positive about with the youth that's come in."
Bucknell's success will depend on the new recruiting class's ability to acclimate to the faster and more complicated collegiate volleyball. The group will need to gain experience and all the Bison must become a completed puzzle as it takes on a competitive Patriot League.
"I think there's a terrific amount of parity in the league this year, more so than ever before," said Opalski. "That parity and competitiveness will bring things down to the wire in terms of who's going to play for the championship and who's going to get an automatic bid into the first round of the NCAA tournament."
Bucknell enters the season picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League, and Opalski enjoys the underdog role.
"I kind of like that position of sneaking in the back door and ruining everyone else's surprise," said Opalski. "I think the potential we have to make it to the conference tournament is really solid. The combinations of our lineups and working on the pieces of the puzzle and getting them to fit right isn't going to be quick, but I think we're going to be solid once we design them."
Opalski believes Colgate, which starts the season ranked third in the conference, will be the surprise of the Patriot League.
"The squad has a lot of seniors on it. It has the ability to play from a position of experience," said Opalski.
Bucknell will take on Colgate on Oct. 10, in Davis Gym and again on Oct. 31, in Hamilton N.Y.
The traditional conference volleyball powerhouse in American University also should prove to be a major contest for the Bison. After playing the Eagles on Sept. 27, in Washington, Md., Bucknell will complete the regular-season series with the defending league champions on Oct. 17 on its home court.
