Volleyball Competes at Western New York Invitational for Final Non-League Weekend

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (6-0) at Buffalo (4-2)
When: Friday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m.
Where: Alumni Arena – Buffalo, N.Y.
Live Video: YouTube
Live Stats: UBBulls.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (6-0) at Canisius (2-4)
When: Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m.
Where: Koessler Athletic Center – Buffalo, N.Y.
Live Video: GoGriffs.com
Live Stats: GoGriffs.com

Setting the Scene, Part III
Who: Bucknell (6-0) vs. Youngstown State (3-3)
When: Saturday, Sept. 10 at 2 p.m.
Where: Koessler Athletic Center – Buffalo, N.Y.
Live Video: TBA
Live Stats: GoGriffs.com

About Bucknell

The Bucknell volleyball team, which is off to its best start in program history, wraps up non-league play at the 2022 Western New York Invitational. The Bison play at Buffalo Friday evening and then head over to nearby Canisius to take on the Golden Griffins and Youngstown State on Saturday. It's Bucknell's third tournament this season. The three opponents the Bison will face this weekend have a combined record of 9-9.
Bucknell went 3-0 at the Bucknell Invitational last weekend with wins over George Washington, NJIT and LIU. They also went 3-0 at the Saint Francis Red Flash Classic during the opening weekend of the season, and it's the first time the Bison have opened a season with six consecutive wins.
The Bison have posted three 3-0 sweeps this season, and Bucknell has scored 25 points in three of the four sets it has lost this season. Bucknell scored 25 points in each of the first four sets of its five-set victory over Saint Francis.
Bucknell is one of three Patriot League teams with six wins and one of two that is unbeaten. The Bison rank third in the league in hitting percentage (.218) and second in opponent hitting percentage (.119).
Bucknell freshman Bri Frazilus has led the team in kills in four of six matches. She currently ranks third among Patriot League players with 4.2 kills per set and ninth with 3.5 digs per set, recording four double-doubles. Frazilus has earned back-to-back Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards, two All-Tournament awards, and she was named MVP at the Bucknell Invitational.
Also making both All-Tournament squads so far this season is junior Catherine Jamison, who ranks second on the roster in kills and seventh in the league with a .309 hitting percentage. Jamison has hit .240 or better in five of six matches while tallying 68 kills.
Senior Sarina Singer put together an all-around solid weekend at the home invitational, collecting 18 kills and 17 digs to earn a spot on the All-Tournament squad. She's third on the roster in total kills (31).
The other Bison to earn All-Tournament status this season is Jordan Hardy. The libero leads the league in digs per set (5.91) and is second in total service aces with 13.
Other Bison ranking top 10 among Patriot League athletes are Jen Sivak and Allie Lopez, who are ninth and 10^th in blocks per set, respectively.

Scouting the Opponents/Series History

Buffalo is 4-2 this season, earning two wins over Cleveland State and suffering one of its two losses to fellow Patriot League team Lehigh. The Bulls are off to their best start through six matches since opening the 2018 season 5-1.
Buffalo sophomore Mandy Leigh was named MAC East Setter of the Week following the team's first weekend of competition. She leads the team with 10.18 assists per set as well as blocks with 1.13 per set. Leading the Bulls in kills is sophomore Katrin Trebichavska with 3.3 per set, and junior Hayley Montoya boasts a team-best 3.22 digs per set.
Bucknell is 0-5 all-time against Buffalo, dating back to 2000. Three of the matches have gone five sets, including the most recent meeting in 2016.
Canisius is 2-4 this fall and has lost three in a row. Both of the team's wins were five-setters against Purdue Fort Wayne and Western Illinois. The Golden Griffins reached the MAAC semifinals last season and were picked fifth in the preseason poll after going 11-18 (10-8 MAAC) in 2021.
Freshman setter Ella Bourque has been named MAAC Rookie of the Week two weeks in a row after posting 101 assists and 28 digs last weekend. Meanwhile, sophomore Taylor Baldwin and senior Ella Loussia are both averaging 3.0 kills per set.
Bucknell is 10-4 all-time against the Golden Griffins, dating back to 1991. The Bison have won each of the last two, including a 3-1 victory in 2021. Libby Nieporte and Lisa Zoch both posted double-digit kills in the most recent matchup, and Bucknell finished the match with a .263 hitting percentage as well as eight blocks.
Youngstown State opened its season 3-3, collecting victories over St. Thomas, Delaware State and Idaho. Four of its six matches have been decided in three sets. The Penguins were picked to finish ninth in the Horizon League's preseason poll after going 6-23 (3-15 HL) last season.
Sophomore outside hitter Paula Hursching was named Horizon League Player of the Week during the opening week of competition and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team at last weekend's Billiken Invitational. She's paced the Penguins with 3.8 kills per set and has a hitting percentage of .225. Defensively, senior Nadia Pace has registered a team-high 17 total blocks, and senior outside hitter Isidora Sisic leads the team with 3.38 digs per set.
Bucknell is 0-7 against Youngstown State, dating back to 1989. The two teams have met just twice since 2000. Youngstown State was Bucknell's only non-conference loss in 2019, defeating the Bison 3-1 in the second match of the season.

Up Next
The Bison open Patriot League play with a home match against Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 17. They then host Lafayette the following day. Bucknell will play its first four league matches at home.

Volleyball Competes at Western New York Invitational for Final Non-League Weekend

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bri Frazilus

Jordan Hardy

Catherine Jamison

Allie Lopez

Libby Nieporte

Sarina Singer

Jen Sivak

Lisa Zoch

Volleyball Competes at Western New York Invitational for Final Non-League Weekend

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bri Frazilus

Jordan Hardy

Catherine Jamison

Allie Lopez

Libby Nieporte

Sarina Singer

Jen Sivak

Lisa Zoch

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