Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh looks to clinch PL Tournament berth this weekend
11/3/2011 10:26:00 PM | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball team will have its final two home games of the 2011 season this weekend as it hosts Bucknell (6-13, 3-7 PL) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Colgate (11-14, 7-3 PL) Saturday at 4 p.m. The Mountain Hawks just need one more win to lock up a spot in the Patriot League Tournament. It would be Lehigh's second berth in three years. On Saturday, Lehigh will celebrate its two seniors Jessica Kudirka and Angelika Kopacz.
For more on the duo, see below.
Lehigh's first chance to earn its spot to the Patriot League Tournament will come Friday night against Bucknell where the Mountain Hawks will be looking for their first season sweep of the Bison since 2002. The Mountain Hawks defeated the Bison earlier in the season in straight sets. In the match, junior Taylor Poole was nine-for-11 with no errors for a stellar .818 attack percentage while she along with sophomore Amanda Clark and Angelika Kopacz combined for 26 of the team's 41 kills.The Mountain Hawks are led by Kopacz who has a team-high 224 kills and 2.73 kills per set while sophomore Paige Kruse is close behind with 203 kills and 2.54 kills per set. Poole leads the team with a .304 attack percentage and is hitting .386 in league matches this season, which ranks her first in the Patriot League.
Lehigh has won seven of its last eight matches and is coming off a straight-set victory of Lafayette in which Poole led the way with a match-high 10 kills while hitting .562.
The Mountain Hawks will take on a Bucknell team that is 2-3 in its past five games including wins over Holy Cross and Navy and losses to Army, American and Colgate. The Bison are led by Jessica Serrato who has a team-high 179 kills and 2.67 kills per set while Kebah Edoho ranks fifth in the Patriot League with a .282 attack percentage.
Lehigh will return to the court the following day to host Colgate. The Mountain Hawks will be looking to avenge a straight-set loss to the Raiders earlier in the season. In the match, Lehigh committed too many errors and gave away too many free points.
Colgate is led by Lindsay Young who has 313 kills and 3.48 kills per set, which ranks her third in the League while Kaylee Fifer ranks third in assists with 9.47 per set.
Seeding for the Patriot League Tournament could be on the line as Lehigh and Colgate sit tied for third place in the standings.
LIVE stats will be available for both as matches as well as live streaming video.
A LOOK AT LEHIGH'S TWO SENIORS
Angelika Kopacz – Outside Hitter – Rutherford, N.J. – Finance 
Kopacz has had an impact on the Lehigh program since she stepped foot on campus. As a freshman, she played in all 28 matches and 96 sets and led the team in kills with 305. Then she had a breakout sophomore campaign as Kopacz was named to the first team All-Patriot League after she led the team with 342 kills. Last season, Kopacz led the team in attacks with 878. This season, Kopacz leads the team in kills and earned a Patriot League Player of the Week honor earlier in year.
What is your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory?
AK: I have so many memories that I don't think I could pinpoint just one. I know that I will never forget the players I met along the way. But I do have to say that I will never forget my first appearance in the Patriot League Tournament and how different the feeling of playing in that game was and I can't wait to experience it again in my final year at Lehigh.
Describe the relationship with your fellow senior.
AK: Jessica and I have been really close friends/teammates ever since freshman year and I'm so glad she is still here with me. She is one of the hardest working and happiest people that I've ever met and am so glad that we're still really good friends.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
AK: I still can't believe that my four years at Lehigh have gone by so fast and that volleyball is almost over. I am so grateful to be a college athlete and have learned so much throughout my years playing the sport. Also, I am so happy I got to be coached by Coach Bob Bertucci because I have learned so much from him and I think that he really changed the program.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
AK: I will miss everything about Lehigh Volleyball. I will miss the practices, games, parents and my teammates.
What are your postgraduate Plans?
AK: I have so many memories that I don't think I could pinpoint just one. I know that I will never forget the players I met along the way. But I do have to say that I will never forget my first appearance in the Patriot League Tournament and how different the feeling of playing in that game was and I can't wait to experience it again in my final year at Lehigh.
Describe the relationship with your fellow senior.
AK: Jessica and I have been really close friends/teammates ever since freshman year and I'm so glad she is still here with me. She is one of the hardest working and happiest people that I've ever met and am so glad that we're still really good friends.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
AK: I still can't believe that my four years at Lehigh have gone by so fast and that volleyball is almost over. I am so grateful to be a college athlete and have learned so much throughout my years playing the sport. Also, I am so happy I got to be coached by Coach Bob Bertucci because I have learned so much from him and I think that he really changed the program.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
AK: I will miss everything about Lehigh Volleyball. I will miss the practices, games, parents and my teammates.
What are your postgraduate Plans?
AK: I want to continue my volleyball career and play beach volleyball. I also hope to be working in NYC after I graduate.
Jessica Kudirka – Setter – Orland Park, Ill. – Accounting (major), Communications (minor) 
Just like Angelika, Kudirka made an immediate impact upon putting on the brown and white. Her freshman season, Kudirka played in all 28 matches and led the team with 5.62 assists per set and was second on the team with 26 service aces. The following year, Kudirka played in 30 games and was second on the team with 4.31 assists per set. Then last season, Kudirka had a stellar year leading the team with 627 assists and 6.40 assists per set. This season, Kudirka has had a career year, totaling 829 assists and is averaging 10 assists per set.
What is your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory?
JK: There have been so many great Lehigh Volleyball moments. My favorite memory would be when either Emily Flanagan ran into the net during a volleyball match against Colgate my sophomore year, or when Lizzy Silverstein hit her head on the top of the bus while she was dancing. There are so many great moments throughout my four years which have made my Lehigh experience unforgettable.
Describe the relationship with your fellow senior.
JK: Angelika and I are very close. She's always supported me in all circumstances and it's great to have spent these last four years together, getting to know each other very well throughout our Lehigh careers. We have many great memories we share, and I know we will be staying close throughout many years to come.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
JK: It's very hard to think that I will never play volleyball at this level again, probably for the rest of my life. I can't imagine myself not playing and having volleyball be a very important part of my everyday life. It has taught me so much throughout my Lehigh career, especially how hard work and time management truly pays off in life.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
JK: Most of all, I would have to say the people. Everyone, both coaches and teammates, are so close and have made my Lehigh volleyball experience the best it could possibly be. I know we will stay in touch when this volleyball season comes to an end, and I cannot imagine being away from them next year. I will also be missing the competitive atmosphere and the game of volleyball.
JK: There have been so many great Lehigh Volleyball moments. My favorite memory would be when either Emily Flanagan ran into the net during a volleyball match against Colgate my sophomore year, or when Lizzy Silverstein hit her head on the top of the bus while she was dancing. There are so many great moments throughout my four years which have made my Lehigh experience unforgettable.
Describe the relationship with your fellow senior.
JK: Angelika and I are very close. She's always supported me in all circumstances and it's great to have spent these last four years together, getting to know each other very well throughout our Lehigh careers. We have many great memories we share, and I know we will be staying close throughout many years to come.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
JK: It's very hard to think that I will never play volleyball at this level again, probably for the rest of my life. I can't imagine myself not playing and having volleyball be a very important part of my everyday life. It has taught me so much throughout my Lehigh career, especially how hard work and time management truly pays off in life.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
JK: Most of all, I would have to say the people. Everyone, both coaches and teammates, are so close and have made my Lehigh volleyball experience the best it could possibly be. I know we will stay in touch when this volleyball season comes to an end, and I cannot imagine being away from them next year. I will also be missing the competitive atmosphere and the game of volleyball.
What are your postgraduate plans?
JK: I will be working at Ernst & Young next fall in New York. This summer, I will be studying for the CPA exam and take all four parts before I start work.
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