Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Volleyball's Rodriguez Earns Patriot League Player of the Week, Bison Athlete of the Week Honors
10/11/2010 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 11, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell volleyball's Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) claimed a pair of honors on Monday, earning her first-ever Patriot League Player of the Week and Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Honor accolades. Rodriguez posted a career night against Colgate last Friday, setting career highs in assists, kills and blocks and helping the Bison to their fourth straight victory.
Rodriguez tallied a match-high 43 assists against the Raiders in Davis Gym last week. That total made up half of the senior co-captain's double-double as Rodriguez also finished with 15 digs, which was a season-high mark. By the end of the night, she had added three kills and two block assists and a pair of service aces to the box score.
Playing in all five sets as part of a two-setter system, Rodriguez surpassed her previous career high in assists by nearly 10. Rodriguez' performance allowed her teammates to record personal bests as well. Attackers Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) and Katie Baumgarten (South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena) reached high marks with 22 and 13 kills, respectively, on a night when four Bison tallied double-digit kills.
Rodriguez leads Bucknell in assists this season with 288 (4.72/set). She also holds the team high in service aces (22). Both those totals rank her among the top 10 in the Patriot League through five matches.
Both awards are the first of Rodriguez' career. Rodriguez is also the first Bison to earn the title of Patriot League Player of the Week since Jenna Henderson nabbed the award on Sept. 10, 2007.
Rodriguez' success has helped improve Bucknell's record to 6-11 overall and 4-1 in the Patriot League. The Bison have won each of their last four league matches for the first time since 2006.
Bucknell volleyball will be back in action Oct. 15-16 when it hits the road to take on Army and Holy Cross. The Bison and Black Knights will face off at 7 p.m. Friday in West Point, N.Y. The Orange and Blue will then challenge Holy Cross at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Worcester, Mass.
