Bucknell University Athletics
Six-Player Freshman Class Set to Help Softball in 2019 Season
9/17/2018 1:31:00 PM | Softball
The Bison Finished Second in the Patriot League Standings Last Season
LEWISBURG, Pa. – SIx new players are set to help the Bucknell softball team in its quest for a Patriot League title this season. Second-year head coach Joey Lye has announced the 2022 class, which includes Sarah Baluch, Bella DeRiso, Ava Fairbanks, Violet Matlock, Nicole Rivait, and Alysse Volpe.
The Bison finished second in the Patriot League standings last season in Lye's first season with the program. They lose just two starters from that team.
"We are so excited to work with this new class of Bison and to see them integrate into the program both on and off the field," Lye said. "Our goal for each class that joins us is that they both mesh with our positive team culture as well as challenge our returners for time on the field, and I anticipate they will do just that. The class is geographically diverse with student-athletes joining us from Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, and California. With their vast experiences, I am confident they will have a lot to offer our program over the next four years."
The following is a closer look at each freshman player:
SARAH BALUCH (NISKAYUNA, N.Y./COLONIE CENTRAL) | INFIELD
Two-time all-state in New York while playing for Colonie Central High School ... four-time all-league selection ... batted .481 her junior season and .445 her senior season ... team went undefeated her final two seasons ... played travel ball with the Colonie Stampede and the Colonie Crossfire ... won 16U World Series with the Colonie Crossfire and the 18U World Series with the Colonie Stampede ... also lettered in volleyball ... daughter of Amy Baluch and David Baluch ... has one older brother, John ... uncle, Jeff Killiany, played baseball at Siena.
BELLA DERISO (PITTSBURGH, PA./OAKLAND CATHOLIC) | OUTFIELD
Team captain at Oakland Catholic High School ... two-year letterwinner in softball ... two-year letterwinner in track and field ... played travel ball with the Ohio Outlaws ... daughter of Michael and Molly DeRiso ... has two younger siblings, Anthony and Lena.
AVA FAIRBANKS (CULVER CITY, CALIF./CULVER CITY) | CATCHER
Three-year team captain and three-year letterwinner at Culver City High School ... three-time first team all-league selection ... four-time all-academic team honoree ... played travel ball with SoCal Athletics 18 Gold Richardson ... also a two-year letterwinner in volleyball and a one-year letterwinner in lacrosse ... daughter of Mike Fairbanks and Rebecca Fairbanks ... has two brothers, Trevor and Colton.
VIOLET MATLOCK (MARIPOSA, CALIF./MARIPOSA COUNTY) | PITCHER
Four-time first team all-league selection while playing for Mariposa County High School ... voted the Southern Atlantic League Most Valuable Pitcher and the MVP ... three-time all-area selection ... had league's lowest season ERA three times ... led the league in RBIs as a freshman ... team captain ... four-year letterwinner ... led team to four Southern Atlantic League titles and two section titles ... played for All-American Sports Academy ... also a team captain in volleyball ... daughter of Sarah Matlock and Pete Judy ... has one younger sibling, Sam.
NICOLE RIVAIT (BURLINGTON, ONTARIO/HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC) | CATCHER/INFIELD
Member of the Canadian National Elite Team and the Canadian Junior National Team ... helped the Junior National Team place fourth in the world in 2017 ... led her travel team, the Waterloo Ghosts, to the 19U national title ... team captain for the Ghosts ... three-time team MVP for her high school team ... daughter of Sandra Rivait and Mike Rivait ... has two younger siblings, Ashley and Layne.
ALYSSE VOLPE (SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO/NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS) | OUTFIELD
Eight national all-star awards over the past five years ... member of the Canadian Junior National Team ... two national top batter awards ... record holder for top batting average at the Canadian National Championship ... named National Player of the Year in 2018 after leading the Waterloo Ghosts to the title at the 19U Canadian National Championships ... helped the Canadian Junior National Team to a fourth-place finish at the World Championships ... daughter of Nino Volpe and Jocelyne Volpe ... has one older brother, Nathan.
Â
The Bison finished second in the Patriot League standings last season in Lye's first season with the program. They lose just two starters from that team.
"We are so excited to work with this new class of Bison and to see them integrate into the program both on and off the field," Lye said. "Our goal for each class that joins us is that they both mesh with our positive team culture as well as challenge our returners for time on the field, and I anticipate they will do just that. The class is geographically diverse with student-athletes joining us from Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, and California. With their vast experiences, I am confident they will have a lot to offer our program over the next four years."
The following is a closer look at each freshman player:
SARAH BALUCH (NISKAYUNA, N.Y./COLONIE CENTRAL) | INFIELD
Two-time all-state in New York while playing for Colonie Central High School ... four-time all-league selection ... batted .481 her junior season and .445 her senior season ... team went undefeated her final two seasons ... played travel ball with the Colonie Stampede and the Colonie Crossfire ... won 16U World Series with the Colonie Crossfire and the 18U World Series with the Colonie Stampede ... also lettered in volleyball ... daughter of Amy Baluch and David Baluch ... has one older brother, John ... uncle, Jeff Killiany, played baseball at Siena.
BELLA DERISO (PITTSBURGH, PA./OAKLAND CATHOLIC) | OUTFIELD
Team captain at Oakland Catholic High School ... two-year letterwinner in softball ... two-year letterwinner in track and field ... played travel ball with the Ohio Outlaws ... daughter of Michael and Molly DeRiso ... has two younger siblings, Anthony and Lena.
AVA FAIRBANKS (CULVER CITY, CALIF./CULVER CITY) | CATCHER
Three-year team captain and three-year letterwinner at Culver City High School ... three-time first team all-league selection ... four-time all-academic team honoree ... played travel ball with SoCal Athletics 18 Gold Richardson ... also a two-year letterwinner in volleyball and a one-year letterwinner in lacrosse ... daughter of Mike Fairbanks and Rebecca Fairbanks ... has two brothers, Trevor and Colton.
VIOLET MATLOCK (MARIPOSA, CALIF./MARIPOSA COUNTY) | PITCHER
Four-time first team all-league selection while playing for Mariposa County High School ... voted the Southern Atlantic League Most Valuable Pitcher and the MVP ... three-time all-area selection ... had league's lowest season ERA three times ... led the league in RBIs as a freshman ... team captain ... four-year letterwinner ... led team to four Southern Atlantic League titles and two section titles ... played for All-American Sports Academy ... also a team captain in volleyball ... daughter of Sarah Matlock and Pete Judy ... has one younger sibling, Sam.
NICOLE RIVAIT (BURLINGTON, ONTARIO/HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC) | CATCHER/INFIELD
Member of the Canadian National Elite Team and the Canadian Junior National Team ... helped the Junior National Team place fourth in the world in 2017 ... led her travel team, the Waterloo Ghosts, to the 19U national title ... team captain for the Ghosts ... three-time team MVP for her high school team ... daughter of Sandra Rivait and Mike Rivait ... has two younger siblings, Ashley and Layne.
ALYSSE VOLPE (SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO/NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS) | OUTFIELD
Eight national all-star awards over the past five years ... member of the Canadian Junior National Team ... two national top batter awards ... record holder for top batting average at the Canadian National Championship ... named National Player of the Year in 2018 after leading the Waterloo Ghosts to the title at the 19U Canadian National Championships ... helped the Canadian Junior National Team to a fourth-place finish at the World Championships ... daughter of Nino Volpe and Jocelyne Volpe ... has one older brother, Nathan.
Â
In The Herd: Army Game Preview And Katie Browne Feature
Thursday, March 19
In The Herd: NCAA Championships Preview And Tyler Bienus Feature
Tuesday, March 17
Lafayette at Bucknell Baseball Game Three Highlights 3-15-2026
Monday, March 16
Lafayette at Bucknell Baseball Game Two Highlights 3-14-2026
Saturday, March 14