Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Campbell Named Patriot League Volleyball Player of the Week
9/4/2012 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell volleyball's Karen Campbell (Chesapeake, Va./Cape Henry Collegiate) was recognized for her standout performance for the second consecutive week, earning the title of Molten Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Tuesday. Campbell, who was also named to the Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational All-Tournament Team last weekend, finished the latest round of play with 23 kills and a team-leading 13 blocks.
The Rookie of the Week award is the first of Campbell's career, but the Bison newcomer has already been named to an all-tournament team in each of her first two weeks of play. Campbell tallied 21 kills and hit .232 in four matches at the season-opening La Salle Invitational. She then followed that up with 23 kills and a .311 attack percentage in three matches last weekend. In addition to her seven kills at Robert Morris, she registered 10 total blocks. One match later, she recorded her weekend high of nine kills as well as three service aces.
In the weekend's three matches, Campbell led Bucknell in blocks and was third on the team in kills. Her attack percentage was also the best by a Bison with more than five kills, and her three total service aces tied for second-most on the team.
Bucknell finished the weekend 2-1 at the tournament having defeated Robert Morris and Loyola (Md.) in four sets. The lone loss came in straight sets to Duquesne. Joining Campbell on the All-Tournament Team was Jessica Serrato (Millbrae, Calif./Saint Ignatius College Prep). After the first two weeks of play, Bucknell is now 4-3 on the season.
Campbell's Rookie of the Week accolade is the first weekly award from the Patriot League since Rachel Rodriguez was named the Player of the Week on Oct. 11, 2010. The current Bison is the first to be named the league's leading newcomer since Kyleigh McAhren on Nov. 10, 2008.
The Bison will be back in action this weekend at Fordham's Rose Hill Classic on Sept. 8-9 in Bronx, N.Y. Bucknell's opponents include Cornell at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, followed by Fordham at 11:30 a.m. and NJIT at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Head coach Cindy Opalski will be looking for her 400th career victory as she enters the tournament at 399-378.
