Volleyball Travels to California for First Matches of 2014

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell volleyball team will open its 2014 season this weekend with a trip to California to participate in the four-team Titan Classic. The Bison will take on host Cal State Fullerton Friday at 10 p.m. (Eastern) and will then face Texas Tech (1 p.m.) and Sacred Heart (7 p.m.) on Saturday.

All three of Bucknell's matches will have live video broadcasts on www.FullertonTitans.com.

Cal State Fullerton is coming off an 11-17 2013 season. Texas Tech was 10-22 a year ago and Sacred Heart was 15-16.

The Bison have never faced Sacred Heart or Texas Tech and are 0-4 all-time against the Titans.

This will be Bucknell's first trip to California since it played at Cal State Bakersfield and Pepperdine in 2012. The Bison will have the unique opportunity to watch the U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team practice Friday morning in Anaheim.

Below is a more in-depth preview of the 2014 Bucknell volleyball team:
With a handful of freshmen highlighting a young team, the Bison have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming season.

Head coach Anna Allison, entering her second year at the helm, is happy with the performance so far.

“We came back ready to go, and there were good surprises in the freshman class,” Allison said. “Our conditioning was very good. They are working extremely hard and have a very good mindset.”

The Bison graduated a number of key players, including both kill leaders from last season in Kristen Titley and Morgan Mientus, as well as assist leader Rose Lewis.

“We had seven seniors last year,” said Allison. “We were a mature team, but we were implementing a completely different style, so it was new for them.”

Offensive depth is still evident with sophomores Jordan Walker and Erika Eastley, who tallied 170 and 147 kills, respectively, returning. Junior Karen Campbell also had an impressive performance at the net last season, tallying 169 kills.

In addition, sophomore setter Keane Brazda's 295 assists were right on the heels of Lewis' team-high 300. Junior Meghan Wentzel impressed as well, registering 285 of her own.

Defensively, Eastley is still a force at the net, with a team-high 115 total blocks last season. Campbell again showcased her versatility up front with 91 of her own. Eastley and Campbell both ranked in the top five in the Patriot League in blocks. Another vital piece is also returning in junior libero Katie Price, whose 390 digs ranked seventh in the conference last season.

“They were huge contributors last year,” Allison said of the returning pieces on both offense and defense. “I'm looking to them to make bigger steps this year.”

Even with a large amount of talent returning to the court for the Bison, they will be relying heavily on an inexperienced freshman class. How fast they can improve and become key contributors with the upperclassmen will be one of the biggest factors for the season.

“The talent that's there is amazing,” Allison noted about the incoming freshmen. “Maybe a little unpolished, but that's the exciting part. I'm expecting big things out of all of them. They can all bring some kind of spark to the team.”

The Bison finished the 2013 season at 10-16 (3-13 Patriot League), ending the year tied for seventh place in the conference. Bucknell will be looking to return to Patriot League Tournament in 2014, having qualified nine times in eleven seasons between 2000 and 2010.

“I think a lot of it had to do with our mindset and how we approached every match,” said Allison of last season's record. “Our attitude approaching those matches sometimes was not ideal. It takes a couple years to get where we want to go. It's very important for them to keep working harder toward that every day. I think this team is ready to go. They have the right attitude.”

Bucknell has a number of nonconference matchups before opening Patriot League play at home vs. Army on September 19.

“The conference isn't getting any easier,” said Allison. American University in particular, who finished last season at 34-3 overall (15-1 Patriot League), is ranked nationally entering this season. “There are no easy wins here,” Allison noted.

However, the confidence is obvious with the goals that have been set.

“We want to end in the top four,” said Allison. “What I've been telling the girls is, 'Finish above .500.' And then the Bucknell mentality clicks: You give them an attainable goal, and that only makes them work harder. With their mentality, they think to themselves, 'Let's go bigger. Let's surprise people,' and I think that's something that we will definitely be able to do.”