Bucknell University
Bellarmine
Bison Volleyball Opens 2022 Season at Red Flash Classic
8/24/2022 9:44:00 AM | Volleyball
Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (0-0) vs. Bellarmine (0-0)
When: Friday, Aug. 26 at 4 p.m.
Where: DeGol Arena – Loretto, Pa.
Live Video: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: SFUAthletics.com
Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (0-0) vs. Gardner-Webb (0-0)
When: Saturday, Aug. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: DeGol Arena – Loretto, Pa.
Live Video: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: SFUAthletics.com
Setting the Scene, Part III
Who: Bucknell (0-0) at Saint Francis (0-0)
When: Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.
Where: DeGol Arena – Loretto, Pa.
Live Video: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: SFUAthletics.com
About the Bison
• The Bucknell volleyball team opens its 45th season of competition this weekend at the Red Flash Classic hosted by Saint Francis. The action begins with a Friday match against the Bellarmine Knights on Friday, and the Bison will challenge both the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs and the hosting Red Flash on Saturday. All three matches will be shown on NEC Front Row.
• Bucknell has seen some bright moments in preseason non-league play over recent years. The Bison picked up wins in three of their first five matches in 2021, and they won a school-record 10 straight matches during non-league play in 2019.
• Bucknell finished 7-18 overall last season, and four of its victories came during non-league play. The Bison were picked to finish eighth in the 2022 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll, which is where they finished in the standings a year ago.
• All eight Bison that started five or more matches last season return in 2022, including the team's leaders in just about every statistical category. Bucknell lost four seniors to graduation and welcomed five newcomers.
• Leading the Bison's offensive attack last season was current senior Lisa Zoch, who totaled 205 kills and is nearing 500 for her career. She was followed by current juniors Libby Nieporte (203 kills) and Catherine Jamison (179 kills).
• Setter Sarah Ramirez posted 750 assists during the 2021 season. Her 8.43 assists per set ranked fifth within the Patriot League. She's joined by two newcomers at the position this year.
• On the defensive side of things, junior middle blockers Allie Lopez and Valentina Feigl return after trading for the team lead in blocks over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, sophomore middle Jen Sivak finished third in blocks in 2021 and led the Bison in hitting percentage.
• Jordan Hardy saw the bulk of playing time at libero last fall and finished fifth in the Patriot League with 4.3 digs per set.
• Bison head coach Tyler Hagstrom is entering his third season with the program. He's joined by second-year assistant Jeremy Young. Hagstrom is looking to guide the Bison back to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2010.
Scouting Bellarmine/Series History
• Bellarmine also opens its season Friday evening. The Knights went 6-22 (2-14 ASUN) in 2021. It was the program's second year competing at the Division I level.
• The Knights boast a veteran team, as they field six seniors and two juniors this year.
• The Knights are under the direction of Rick Nold, who was named head coach in July after 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach at Jacksonville State and Auburn where he compiled a career record of 299-237.
• Bellarmine was selected to finish 13th in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Friday will be the first-ever meeting between Bucknell and Bellarmine.
Scouting Gardner-Webb/Series History
• Gardner-Webb opens its season against Saint Francis on Friday before matching up with the Bison on Saturday. It finished 7-19 (4-12 Big South) in 2021.
• The Runnin' Bulldogs were picked to tie for seventh in the Big South preseason poll, finishing ahead of Radford.
• The team is in its second season under head coach Eric Plunkett. Before 2021, Punkett was associate head coach at Illinois State for nine seasons.
• Gardner-Webb is another team Bucknell will play for the first time in program history this weekend.
Scouting Saint Francis/Series History
• Bucknell wraps up the weekend with a Saturday evening match against host Saint Francis, which posted a 13-14 overall record last year and a 9-5 mark in the Northeast Conference. It was the team's best conference record since 2006. The Red Flash fell to Bryant in the first round of the 2021 NEC tournament.
• Saint Francis was picked third out of eight teams in the 2022 preseason poll.
• Graduate student Madi Tyus is the reigning NEC Player of the Year after she led the conference in kills per set at outside hitter. Additionally, sophomore outside hitter Maggie Hogan earned Co-Rookie of the Year in 2021.
• Saint Francis is led by Sara McMullen Spielvogel, who was voted the NEC Coach of the Year in 2021. She's in her eighth season with the program.
• Bucknell and Saint Francis have a lengthy history, meeting 38 times since 1984. Bucknell holds a 30-8 advantage in the all-time series. The Bison won the last matchup 3-0 in 2019.
Up Next
The Bison host the Bucknell Invitational at Davis Gym Friday, Sept. 2 through Saturday, Sept. 3. NJIT, LIU and George Washington will be in attendance. Bucknell's first match of the weekend will be against the Colonials at 6 p.m. on Friday.
