Volleyball Welcomes UConn, Cornell for 23rd Annual Tournament

LEWISBURG, Pa. – After spending its first two weekends of 2014 on the road, the Bison volleyball squad will stay home this weekend and host the 23rd annual Bucknell Invitational. Connecticut and Cornell will visit Lewisburg for the three-match tournament that begins Friday evening.

Connecticut and Cornell will open the tournament Friday at 6 p.m. The Bison will take the court twice on Saturday, facing the Huskies at 11:30 a.m. and the Big Red at 4:30 p.m. Live statistics for all three matches will be available via BucknellBison.com.

Bucknell is 2-12 all-time against Cornell in a series that began in 1984. The Bison's two victories came in 1996 and last year in the final match of the Cornell Invitational. Bucknell is 0-4 all-time against UConn with this weekend's matchup the first between the two teams since 1998.

The Bison bring a 1-5 record into the weekend after a 1-2 showing at the Cal State Fullerton Titan Classic and an 0-3 mark at the Columbia Invitational. Bucknell has a two-match home winning streak and collected five of its 10 victories a year ago inside Davis Gym.

Freshman Hailey Stout (56) and sophomore Jordan Walker (55) pace the Bison in kills, while junior Karen Campbell (29), sophomore Erika Eastley (25) and junior Kristen Gelenitis (25) are all over 20 blocks on the season. In fact, Campbell leads the Patriot League with 1.21 blocks per set.

Junior setter Meghan Wentzel's team-best 174 assists place her fourth in the Patriot League as she closes in on her 2013 final total of 285.

UConn brings a 3-3 record into the weekend. The Huskies posted a 2-1 record at their own season-opening UConn Classic and followed that up with a 1-2 mark at last weekend's N.C. State Tournament. Connecticut was 14-19 a year ago.

Cornell opened its campaign at last weekend's Seton Hall Tournament and registered a 1-3 record. The Big Red, who are coming off an 8-16 2013 season, captured a five-set victory over Siena.

Bucknell will continue its four-match homestand next weekend when it opens Patriot League play against Army (Friday) and Holy Cross (Saturday).