Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Volleyball Opens Home Slate with Bucknell Invitational on Friday
9/2/2010 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 2, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bison volleyball makes its home debut this weekend, hosting Eastern Michigan, Iona and Providence at the Bucknell Invitational Sept. 3-4. The Bison will first be in action against Eastern Michigan at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Davis Gym with Saturday's matchups coming against Iona at noon and Providence at 5 p.m. Live stats for all six of the tournament's matches will be available on GameTracker at BucknellBison.com.
BUCKNELL INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 3
- Providence vs. Iona, 5 p.m. Live Stats 
- Bucknell vs. Eastern Michigan, 7:30 p.m. Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 4
- Eastern Michigan vs. Iona, 10 a.m. Live Stats
- Bucknell vs. Iona, 12 p.m. Live Stats
- Providence vs. Eastern Michigan, 3 p.m. Live Stats
- Bucknell vs. Providence, 5 p.m. Live Stats
ABOUT THE BISON
- Bucknell opened its season with one of the toughest single-weekend schedules in recent history, taking on No. 10 Southern California, Cal State Fullerton and Loyola Marymount at the USC Trojan Invitational in Los Angeles late last month. The Bison struggled to get on the board, falling in straight sets in each of the matches.
- Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) was named to the Trojan Invitational All-Tournament Team at the end of play. The senior co-captain led the Bison in kills and blocks through three matches.
- Kamp also continued to make her way up the record lists with her performance in Los Angeles. With 212 block assists, she is just eight shy of taking over fourth place on the Bucknell all-time list, passing Sarah Groman (2003-06). The top-five ranking is not the only place in the record books Kamp's name appears, however. She also set the program record for single-season attack percentage, hitting .722 against Lehigh in 2008.
- Much like last year, Kamp and Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) are neck-and-neck in total blocks. The duo ranked in the Patriot League's top 10 in total blocks in 2009. Now in 2010, Kamp and Jackson are separated by just one block assist, having tallied five and four total blocks, respectively.
- Morgan Clark (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley) made quite the impact in her Bucknell debut last week. The freshman led the Bison in kills in two of three matches, including a weekend high of five against Loyola Marymount. Taking the lead in kills in the third match was Katie Baumgarten (South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena) with seven against USC.
- Senior Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and sophomore Kat Tauscher (Washington, D.C./National Cathedral School) have been teaming up on the assists front so far this season. Rodriguez has a slight edge over her younger teammate at 25 assists, while Tauscher has 21.
- Bucknell was picked fifth with 49 points in the Patriot League Preseason Poll. The Bison trailed defending champion Army, which was voted number one with 92 points and nine first-place votes, American with 90 points and seven first-place votes, Colgate (74 points) and Lehigh (62).
- Bucknell has relatively limited experience against its foes for the weekend. The Bison have never met Eastern Michigan and have played Iona and Providence just seven times each. Bucknell has the winning edge against Iona, leading 5-2 in the series, but trails 2-5 against Providence.
- The last time Bucknell and Iona played, the Gaels came out on top in straight sets at the 2008 Central Connecticut State Invitational. The Bison last won against the Gaels in 1999, 3-0, at the Bucknell Triangular.
- Bucknell took on Providence last year, falling 3-1 at the Marist Volley in the Valley. Jackson led the Bison with 10 kills. Rodriguez and Emily Sawanobori (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) each tallied 17 digs. The Bison last defeated the Friars in 2005, winning 3-0 at the La Salle Tournament.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
- Eastern Michigan comes to Davis Gym with an undefeated record of 4-0. The Eagles won the Comfort Suites/Sam Houston State Invitational last weekend, defeating Prairie View A&M, Sam Houston State, Marist and Louisiana-Lafayette. Louisiana-Lafayette was the only squad able to take a set off Eastern Michigan. Rachel Iaquaniello and Ashley Mason both earned all-tournament honors, with Iaquaniello being named MVP.
- Mason leads the team in assists through the Eagles' first four matches, tallying 12.92/set. Iaquaniello has been on the receiving end of many of those assists as she holds the team high in kills with 4.15/set. Defensively, Eastern Michigan has three players averaging better than one block per set in Kristen Baker (1.17/set), Jenn Swartz (1.08/set) and Erin Short (1.09/set).
- Eastern Michigan finished its 2009 schedule with a 5-28 record overall, including a 4-12 tally in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles return four starters plus their libero in the new season.
ABOUT THE GAELS
- Iona continued to alternate wins and losses, dropping a 3-0 decision to Hofstra on Wednesday. The loss brings the Gaels' record to 2-2 on the season. They also lost to St. John's but defeated Fairleigh Dickinson and Army at the Black Knight's tournament last weekend.
- Allison Nieters leads Iona in digs this season with 9.40/set. With 19 digs against Army, the senior also broke the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's all-time record with better than 2,105 career digs. Also sitting atop the Gaels' stat lists in 2010 are Theresa Harvey (3.20 kills/set), Alyssa Erickson (9.40 assists/set) and Rachel Whitten (0.47 blocks/set).
- Iona closed out its 2009 campaign with a 12-16 overall record. The team also went 9-9 in the MAAC.
ABOUT THE FRIARS
- Providence enters the weekend with a 1-4 record. The Friars earned their first win of the season against Holy Cross, taking a 3-1 decision on Wednesday. Their previous four losses came at the Norfolk State Tournament last weekend against Kent State, Norfolk State, Navy and Greensboro.
- Lauren Fletcher continues to lead the Friars in kills (4.37/set) so far this season after closing 2009 atop the team's leader board as well. The junior middle blocker also leads in total blocks (0.84/set) after five matches. Carly Morrison is tops in assists (6.89/set), while Cassie Muzzonigro has claimed the squad high in digs (4.26/set).
- In 2009, Providence went 10-16 overall, competing independently. The Friars, which return five of their six starters from last season, are now a member of the America East Conference.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following its home tournament, Bucknell will return to the road for the next few weeks. The Bison will travel to New York both weekends, competing at the Niagara/Canisius Invitational in Niagara and Buffalo Sept. 10-11 as well as the Columbia Classic in New York Sept. 17-18.
