Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Volleyball to Host Colgate for Bison Vision, Dig Pink Match Friday at Davis Gym
10/7/2010 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 7, 2010
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LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell volleyball will host its lone match in the month of October at 7 p.m. on Friday night against Colgate, and the Bison are looking to make the most of the opportunity. The contest, which will stream live on Bison Vision at BucknellBison.com, has been designated Dig Pink Night in support of breast cancer awareness. Bucknell is also looking to extend its winning streak to four matches and move one step closer to the top of the Patriot League standings.
As part of their Dig Pink Night, the Bison will conduct a number of contests and giveaways at Davis Gym. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support for Bucknell and the fight against breast cancer. Donations will also be accepted for the Side-Out Foundation.
ABOUT THE BISON
- After a tough early-season schedule, Bucknell got on track just in time for Patriot League action. The Bison are 3-1 having defeated Navy, Lafayette and Lehigh most recently. The three-match winning streak gives Bucknell its longest since 2006.
- The last time the Bison won at least four league matches in a row also came in 2006. Bucknell defeated Army, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Colgate during that stretch.
- Bucknell shut out Lafayette and Lehigh on the road last weekend, winning both matches by a score of 3-0. Katie Baumgarten (South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena) came up big in both contests, leading the Bison in kills and ranking in the top two in digs on back-to-back nights.
- Baumgarten tallied eight kills against Lafayette before tying a career high with 10 on Saturday at Lehigh. Her 12 digs against the Leopards was also a career high until she improved it to 14 against the Mountain Hawks. After totaling 18 kills (3.0/set) and 26 digs (4.5/set), the junior outside hitter was named the Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week on Monday.
- Bucknell held both of last weekend's opponents to a less than .100 attack percentage. The Bison kept Lafayette at .031, while Lehigh hit just .062. Those averages have helped Bucknell to a second-place position on the Patriot League attack percentage ranking with a .123 mark through four matches.
- The Bison also rank in the top half of the league in blocks (second, 2.60/set) and service aces (fourth, 1.87/set) as a team.
- Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuite) and Kat Tauscher (Washington, D.C./National Cathedral School) have become quite the assists duo lately. Tauscher has reached double digits in each of the last six contests, including a career-best 22-assist performance against Fordham in mid-September. Rodriguez has hit double figures in each of her last four matches as well.
- Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) has earned at least one block in every match this season. That includes a season-best seven vs. Providence to help the Bison to their first win of the year. Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) has been nearly as productive, totaling blocks in all but one match in 2010.
- Kamp's and Jackson's defensive performances at the net recently have earned them two of the top three spots in the Patriot League standings. Kamp is second on the list with 1.20 total blocks per set, while Jackson is third at 1.14/set. Only Colgate and American also have two blockers included in the top 10.
- Bucknell trails 22-25 in the all-time series with Colgate. It is the first time since 2004 the Bison have not led in the series. After losing 14 of the first 15 meetings, Bucknell took control in the mid-90s and won 21 of the next 32.
- The Bison are 14-8 when playing the Raiders in Davis Gym.
- Colgate won both matches in 2009. Kamp led Bucknell with 10 kills in the first meeting, but three Raiders finished in double digits in the same category. After four sets, Colgate had held Bucknell to just .080 hitting. The Bison put up a much better average in the second match hitting .215 at Davis Gym, but the Bison still lost in straight sets. Jackson was second on the squad with eight kills.
ABOUT THE RAIDERS
- After falling in four sets to Albany on Wednesday night, Colgate comes to Davis Gym with a 10-8 record overall. The Raiders' 3-1 mark in the Patriot League ties them with Bucknell and Army for a second-place tie in the league standings. Getting them to that point were wins over Lafayette (3-0) and Lehigh (3-2) last weekend. The Raiders split their opening league weekend with a win over Navy (3-1) and a loss to American (3-1).
- Colgate has five players with more than 100 kills on the season. At the head of that pack is Maureen Colligan with 191 (2.62/set). Kaylee Fifer and Blaire Safir both have amassed more than 200 assists with Fifer in front with 421 (6.10/set). Defensively, Casey Ritt leads in blocks with 62 (.85/set), while Devon Applegate is tops in digs with 269 (3.74/set). Applegate's average (4.44/set) in Patriot League action is also number one.
- As a team, Colgate ranks in the top three in a number of categories after four Patriot League matches. That list includes attack percentage (.208), assists (11.81/set), kills (12.56/set) and digs (15.50/set).
- In 2009, the Raiders finished 15-13 overall and 11-3 in the Patriot League, tying them for second. Earning first-team all-league honors at season's end were Kaylee Dougherty and Ritt. Kaleigh Durkett was also a second-team selection. Two of the three - Dougherty and Ritt - return for the 2010 campaign.
LOOKING AHEAD
Bucknell will hit the road for its next five matches. Up first on the docket are Army and Holy Cross Oct. 15-16. The Friday match with the Black Knights in West Point, N.Y., is set for 7 p.m. The showdown with the Crusaders in Worcester, Mass., is slated for a 4 p.m. start on Saturday.
