Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Volleyball Makes Short Trip to Lafayette, Lehigh Looking for More League Wins
9/30/2010 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 30, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell volleyball will take to the road for the first time in its Patriot League schedule, traveling to Lafayette and Lehigh this weekend. The Bison will try to keep the Leopards from their first league victory when they face off at 7 p.m. on Friday in Easton, Pa. They will then try to pull off an early upset over Lehigh at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Bethlehem, Pa. Live stats will be available for both matches.
ABOUT THE BISON
- Bucknell split the opening week of Patriot League action taking a 3-1 loss to American last Friday before bouncing back on Saturday for a 3-2 win over Navy. Heidi Kamp (Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) led the Bison in kills in both matches. Rachel Rodriguez (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Leylin Marroquin (Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch) did the same in assists and digs, respectively.
- Kamp's kill mark against Navy was the best of her career. The senior totaled 21 against the Mids, breaking her previous personal best of 17 set last year against Lafayette. Kamp also led all players with a .459 attack percentage in the match.
- The Bison have played some real nail-biters this season. All three of the team's wins have come in four or more sets. In addition to the 3-2 victory over Navy last week, Bucknell also defeated Providence in five sets at the beginning of the month and Canisius in four sets on Sept. 11. The Bison posted similar results in 2008. After losing its first five matches, which was also the case in 2010, Bucknell won over Tennessee-Martin (3-2), Sam Houston State (3-1) and Fairleigh Dickinson (3-1) for its first victories of the year. The Orange and Blue's next six wins were then decided in straight sets.
- Bucknell held its opponents to a .194 attack percentage last weekend. That marked the second weekend this season the Bison have held its opponents to sub-.200 hitting. Iona, Eastern Michigan and Providence combined to hit .154 against the Bison at the Bucknell Invitational.
- Although it is still early in the Patriot League schedule, Bucknell jumped out in front in team blocks. The Bison lead the league with 23 (2.56/set). Helping them to that total are Kamp, who ranks fifth with 10 blocks (1.11/set), and Ragin Jackson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson), who is tied for sixth with eight (1.00/set).
- Kamp has made her mark in more than just blocks. She is also third in attack percentage (.400) and fourth in kills with 32 (3.56/set). Also earning a spot in the early Patriot League rankings are Rodriguez, who is fifth in assists with 48 (5.33/set) and tied for seventh in aces with four (0.44/set). Emily Sawanobori (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) is also tied for seventh in the league in aces, while Marroquin is sixth in digs with 28 (3.11/set).
- The Bison got some strong serving from a number of players last weekend. Rodriguez and Sawanobori each chipped in four aces against Navy. Kristen Titley (Coral Gables, Fla./Palmer Trinity School) also had three against American despite seeing action in just one set.
- With 26 assists against Navy last Saturday, Rodriguez passed the 200 mark for the first time in her career. The senior's previous single-season career best was set last season at 175. She now has 213 assists in 2010.
- Bucknell leads the all-time series with Lafayette, 31-20. The teams split meetings last season with the Bison earning the 3-0 win in October. The Leopards then won 3-1 a month later despite 17 kills from Kamp and 10 more from Jackson. Four Leopards finished with double-digit kills in that match, including Elmer with 14.
- The Bison are 24-5 against the Leopards since 1993. That includes a 17-match winning streak from 1993-2003.
- Bucknell trails 35-24 all-time against Lehigh. The teams traded straight-sets decisions last season, and each squad won their home contest. Kamp led Bucknell with 14 kills in October, but the Bison were held to just two total team blocks. That changed in November as the Bison out-blocked the Mountain Hawks, 15 to 4, but Bucknell still saw its 14-match winning streak end.
- The Bison are 16-7 against the Mountain Hawks since 2000. Their 14 straight victories during that stretch is the longest winning streak by either team.
ABOUT THE LEOPARDS
- Lafayette, which was selected sixth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, welcomes Bucknell on Friday after working its way to a 4-11 record overall and a 0-2 tally in the league. The Leopards fell in straight sets against Holy Cross and Army last weekend. The team's wins this season have come against Fairleigh Dickinson (3-0), St. Peter's (3-2), Coppin State (3-1) and La Salle (3-1).
- Lafayette will be hosting its Dig Pink Night in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Friday's festivities will include free pizza, raffles and a serving contest. The Leopards will also be accepting donations for the Side-Out Foundation in order to support clinical trials, increase compassionate support services and educate communities.
- Leading the Leopards through their first 15 matches are Kayly Elmer with 184 kills (3.47/set) and Sarah Frohnapfel with 274 assists (7.61/set). Lafayette also has three players with more than 100 digs on the season, including Mackenzie Larsen with a team-best 192 (3.62/set). Defensively, the team also relies on Alana Taylor with 33 blocks (0.62/set).
- Lafayette has lost a lot from its 2009 squad that finished 14-13 overall and 5-9 in the Patriot League. The Leopards graduated their kills (Cara Mulholland), assists (Ashton Rossi) and digs (Kari Horn) leaders from that squad. Taylor, who posted a team high in blocks, is the Leopards' lone returning category leader.
ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS
- Lehigh enters the weekend at .500 across the board – 7-7 overall and 1-1 in the Patriot League. After falling 3-1 to Army last Friday, the Mountain Hawks defeated Holy Cross 3-1 on Saturday. Lehigh, which was selected fourth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, has now won four of its last six matches.
- Angelika Kopacz continues to be a force for the Mountain Hawks, leading the team in kills with 172 (3.25/set). The junior is just one of three players with more than 100 kills on the season. Lehigh also has several players with 100-plus digs, including Rachel Charles with 227 (4.28/set) through the team's first 14 matches. Jessica Kudirka leads in assists with 311 (5.87/set), while Taylor Poole is tops in blocks with 48 (0.91/set).
- Lehigh was the final team to make the Patriot League Tournament last season, finishing fourth with a 7-7 league tally. Kopacz was named a first-team all-league selection. No longer with the Mountain Hawks is Emma Melendez, who earned Second Team All-Patriot League and Defensive Player of the Year.
LOOKING AHEAD
Bucknell will return home for its lone home match in October, hosting Colgate on Oct. 8. The match, which is set for 7 p.m., will be the first of two this season to be broadcast live on Bison Vision at BucknellBison.com.
