Volleyball Set for League Matches Against Lehigh and Lafayette

Setting the Scene
(Friday, Sept. 30 – 7 p.m.)
What: Bucknell (2-12, 0-2 PL) at Lehigh (7-9, 3-0 PL)
Where: Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall (Bethlehem, Pa.)
Live Stats: LehighSports.com
Watch Live: Patriot League Network

(Saturday, Oct. 1 – 5 p.m.)
What: Lafayette (3-10, 1-2 PL) at Bucknell (2-12, 0-2 PL)
Where: Davis Gym (Lewisburg, Pa.)
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Watch Live: Patriot League Network

About the Bison
* Bucknell is 2-12 overall and 0-2 in the Patriot League after losing a pair of road matches to tough Patriot League opponents in defending league champion American and Navy.
* The Bison will play on the road for the third straight match to open Patriot League play when they travel to play Lehigh.
* Bucknell went 5-3 at home against Patriot League opponents last season. They were 3-5 on the road.
* The Bison rank third in the conference in blocks (2.09/set) and in digs (15.19).
* Senior Erika Eastley and freshman Mimi Richards rank second in blocks (1.00).
* Senior Kristen Parks ranks second in the league in digs (4.13).
* The Bison have won one weekly award from the conference this season, as Richards was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week following the opening weekend of the season. Richards, freshman Sophie Bullard, and freshman Bridgette Holland have all earned all-tournament honors.

Scouting Lehigh
* Lehigh is 7-9 overall and 3-0 in the Patriot League after recordings wins over Lafayette, Navy, and Loyola (Md.). It has out-scored its opponents 9-1 during that stretch.
* Jessica Donaldson is the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week. She ranks ninth in the conference in kills (2.58).
* Emily Pool leads the Patriot League in blocks (1.02).
* Lehigh was picked to finish fourth in the conference this season. Megan Polak was a Preseason All-Patriot League selection.

Scouting Lafayette
* Lafayette is 3-10 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League after a 3-0 loss at American. The Leopards also have a league loss at Lehigh and a win at Loyola (Md.).
* The Leopards' will be on the road for the fourth straight match to open their league schedule.
* Lafayette was picked to finish seventh in the conference.
* The Leopards give up the most aces in the league (2.02).

Series History with Lehigh
* Lehigh leads the all-time series 45-26. The teams have played every year since 1978.
* The Mountain Hawks have won six straight.
* The Bison's last win came in 2013.

Series History with Lafayette
* Bucknell leads the all-time series 39-23. The teams have played every year since 1978.
* The Bison have won five straight. The Leopards' last win came in 2013.
* Bucknell head coach Anna Allison is 5-1 against Lafayette.
* Blake Buchholz averaged 10.0 kills and 17.0 digs in two wins over the Leopards last season. Hailey Stout averaged 9.5 kills and 14.0 digs, while Erika Eastley averaged 6.0 total blocks.

League Notes
* Lehigh (3-0), American (2-0), and Army West Point (2-0) are all unbeaten in league play.
* Navy (11-3) and American (11-6), Bucknell's first two league opponents, have the best overall records in the conference.

Milestone/Record Watch
* Erika Eastley ranks fourth in program history with 331 total blocks. She is 57 away from tying former teammate Karen Campbell (2012-15) for third.
* Eastley is fifth with 262 block assists. She is 15 away from tying Heidi Kamp (2007-10) for fourth.

Up Next
* Bucknell will play at Loyola (Md.) on Saturday, Oct. 8, and will host Colgate on Monday, Oct. 10.