Bucknell University Athletics
Volleyball Hosts Navy and American for Patriot League Matches this Weekend
9/23/2015 12:02:00 PM | Volleyball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell volleyball team continues Patriot League play with a pair of home matches this weekend at Davis Gym. The Bison will host Navy on Friday at 7 p.m. and American on Saturday at 5 p.m. The match against Navy will be shown free of charge on the Patriot League Network.
The Bison are 6-5 on the season after a 1-2 record at the Bucknell Invitational. The Bison dropped matches to Colgate and Providence before concluding the event with a dominant 3-0 win over Delaware State. Senior Karen Campbell was named to the All-Tournament Team for the fourth straight weekend after leading the Bison with 37 kills, a .392 hitting percentage and 14 total blocks.
Bucknell is one of four teams in the Patriot League with an overall record better than .500. The Bison are third in the conference in hitting percentage (.219), assists (11.67), kills (12.56) and digs (14.79). Campbell leads the way for the Bison individually, ranking second in kills (3.44) and third in hitting percentage (.382) and blocks (1.13). Meghan Wentzel is second in assists (9.95), while Jenna Slusar is fourth in aces (0.37).
vs. Navy| Friday, 7 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch Live
Navy enters its Patriot League opener with an overall record of 2-11 on the season, with the wins coming against Canisius and Saint Francis. The Mids are winless in their past seven matches, but that included a tough 3-2 loss to Maryland. Olivia Kruger paces the team with 2.00 kills/set, 2.28 digs/set and has served for 11 aces.
Bucknell trails the all-time series 26-21. Navy has won six straight matches over the past three seasons, but both of last year's matches went down to the wire before resulting in 3-2 Mids' victories.
vs. American | Saturday, 5 p.m. | Live Stats
American is 8-5 overall and begins Patriot League play at Lafayette on Friday. The Eagles have won five of their last six matches, with the loss coming to Virginia. They lead the Patriot League in hitting percentage (.249) and blocks (.278), while Erin Swartz is first individually in blocks (1.39). The team is led by reigning Patriot League Player of the Year and two-time Setter of the Year Monika Smidova. Allison Cappelino and Kristyna Lindovska joined Smidova on last year's All-Patriot League Team.
American leads the all-time series with Bucknell 37-1. In the second matchup last season, the Bison tied the match 1-1 and nearly took the third set for a 2-1 lead. The Bison aren't the only team in the conference to struggle against the Eagles, who are 174-12 against Patriot League teams since joining the league in 2001. They have won 12 regular season titles and 12 tournament titles during that time.
