Bucknell University Athletics
Volleyball Picked Seventh in Patriot League Preseason Poll
8/20/2015 2:07:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell volleyball was picked to finish seventh in the Patriot League this season in a preseason poll released by the conference on Thursday. The poll was voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
American was a unanimous pick to win its 14th Patriot League regular season title in the past 15 years, receiving 16 first-place votes and a total of 128 points. Lehigh garnered the other two first-place votes and came in at second with 110 points, followed by Army West Point (96), Navy (87), Colgate (79) and Holy Cross (52). Bucknell was seventh with 49 points, coming in ahead of Lafayette (26) and Loyola (21), two teams the Bison swept last season.
Bucknell returns all but one player from last season's roster. The Bison went 7-18 overall and 5-11 in the Patriot League, notching a win against Holy Cross and two against both Lafayette and Loyola (Md.). The five wins in league play were the most for the Bison since 2010.
The Bison open the season at Central Connecticut State's Blue Devil Classic, where they will play matches against NJIT, the host Blue Devils, and Fairfield on Aug. 28-29. Following three away tournaments to open the season, they will play their first conference match of the season against Colgate in Davis Gym on Sept. 18.
Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll
- American, 128 points (16 first-place votes)
- Lehigh, 110 (2)
- Army West Point, 96
- Navy, 87
- Colgate, 79
- Holy Cross, 52
- Bucknell, 49
- Lafayette, 26
- Loyola, 21
Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year: Monika Smidova, American (Sr., S)
Volleyball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Allison Cappellino, American (Sr., OH)
Monika Smidova, American (Sr., S)
Carolyn Bockrath, Army West Point (So., MB)
Nicole Perri, Army West Point (Sr., OH)
Mariah Brantley, Lehigh (Jr., L)
Amy Matula, Lehigh (Sr., S)
Stephanie Slater, Lehigh (Sr., RS)
