Volleyball Heads to Washington, D.C. for Non-Conference Matchup

LEWISBURG, Pa. – After earning its first Patriot League victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Loyola on Friday night, the Bucknell volleyball team will head to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday afternoon for its final non-conference matchup of the 2013 season. The Bison will take on the Howard University Bison in Burr Gymnasium at 5 p.m., looking to grab another win and prepare for Friday's game with Colgate.

Bucknell enters the contest with a 7-9 overall record and a 1-6 mark in Patriot League action, having opened the season with three consecutive 2-1 weekends at non-conference tournaments. The two Bison squads have met on six different occasions, beginning with their first matchup on Sept. 9, 1986, and the series between the two schools is tied, with each team winning three games. The teams last played on Sept. 12, 2003, and Bucknell came away with a 3-0 win in that match.

Freshman Erika Eastley continues to lead Bucknell's offense and contribute significantly to its defense, compiling 115 kills with a .314 attack percentage and averaging 1.32 blocks per set. She is joined by senior Kristen Titley, freshman Jordan Walker, senior Morgan Mientus and senior Jessica Serrato in registering over 100 kills so far this season, while freshman Keane Brazda has averaged 4.38 assists per set. Brazda and senior Rose Lewis have each tallied ten service aces, while sophomore libero Katie Price is contributing 4.40 digs per set to the defense. Sophomore Karen Campbell was a force in Bucknell's match with Loyola, and has compiled a .306 hitting percentage and 58 blocks to make her another double-sided threat for the Bison.

Howard, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, is currently 15-6 overall and has a 5-1 mark in conference play. The Bison are in the midst of a two-game winning streak, having earned a 3-1 victory over Norfolk State on Friday and a 3-0 win over Coppin State on Sunday. The squad is outperforming its opponents in kills, assists, aces, digs and blocks, and has compiled a .201 attack percentage over the course of the season.

Katherine Broussard leads the offense with 249 kills, an average of 3.19 per set, and a .216 hitting percentage. Five Bison have compiled at least 100 kills in 21 games, including Destinee Harrison who has a team-leading .385 hitting percentage. Stephanie Shultis is averaging 9.86 assists per set and has added 37 service aces, while Allyson Lods has contributed 4.32 digs per set. Assata Conway is the team's top blocker, making eight solo blocks and 50 block assists this season.

The Bison will follow up Tuesday afternoon's match with two games against defending Patriot League champion Colgate, welcoming the Raiders to Davis Gym on Friday, Oct. 18 before traveling to Hamilton, N.Y. on Tuesday, Oct. 22.