Volleyball Hosts Lehigh and Lafayette for First Patriot League Matches

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (7-2, 0-0 PL) vs. Lehigh (8-3, 0-0 PL)
When: Saturday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (7-2, 0-0 PL) vs. Lafayette (3-4, 0-0 PL)
When: Sunday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com

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Free pizza for Bucknell students while supplies last.

About Bucknell

Bucknell begins Patriot League play with a pair of home matches against Lehigh and Lafayette this weekend. Its Bucknell's 33rd season of Patriot League competition.
The Bison have looked strong during the early portions of the season, opening with a program-best 6-0 start and finishing with seven non-league victories for just the second time since 2006. Bucknell posted three 3-0 sweeps, and one of its two losses went five sets.
Bucknell's six-game winning streak was snapped by the 7-2 Buffalo Bulls this past weekend. The team then earned a win over Canisius before falling 3-2 to a solid 5-4 Youngstown State team.
Bucknell currently ranks second in the Patriot League in opponent hitting percentage (.137). It's also second in limiting opponent kills (10.94/S) and leads the league in digs (17.18/S).
Outside hitters Bri Frazilus and Catherine Jamison piled up accolades during non-league play. Frazilus was twice named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week, earned spots on two All-Tournament Teams and was voted MVP at the Bucknell Invitational. The freshman has totaled five double-doubles and ranks fifth in the league in kills (3.52/S).
Jamison was named to all three All-Tournament squads and is just behind Frazilus at sixth in the league with 3.34 kills per set. She's also sixth in hitting percentage (.311), having hit better than .300 five times this season.
Sophomore libero Jordan Hardy ranks first in the league in digs per set (5.56) and earned MVP honors at the Saint Francis Red Flash Classic.
Also ranking top 10 in the league are Allie Lopez (0.96/S) and Jen Sivak (0.94) in blocks.
Bison head coach Tyler Hagstrom is in 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 Lehigh/Series History

The Mountain Hawks went 8-3 in non-league play. The only common opponent Lehigh has shared with the Bison is Buffalo, and the Mountain Hawks defeated the Bulls 3-1.
Lehigh was picked to finish seventh in the 2022 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll, coming in one spot ahead of Bucknell. Lehigh went 4-12 in league play in 2021.
Lehigh leads the league in hitting percentage (.255), opponent hitting percentage (.122) and blocks per set (2.56). Additionally, sophomore middle blocker Emily Stewart ranks first in hitting percentage (.467) and blocks (1.18/S).
Lehigh head coach Alexa Keckler is in her fifth year with the program. She's an even 53-53 since arriving in Bethlehem and is 290-204 for her career.
Saturday will be the 84th meeting all-time between the Bison and the Mountain Hawks, dating back to 1978. The Mountain Hawks hold a 54-29 lead in the series.
Bucknell defeated Lehigh 3-2 at home in the most recent matchup. The Bison posted hitting percentages over .200 in three of five sets, including a .267 in the fifth. Meanwhile, Lehigh held a 10-4 edge in blocks. Three Bison registered double-digit kills, and Jordan Hardy supplied 38 digs.

Scouting Lafayette/Series History

Lafayette is 3-4 with sweeps over its last two opponents. The Leopards will face Lehigh at home on Friday before traveling to Lewisburg.
Lafayette was picked to finish sixth in the 2022 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll. The Leopards went 12-4 in league play last season and earned a spot in the Patriot League tournament before falling to fourth-seeded American playing as the No. 2 seed in the semifinals.
The Leopards rank third in the league in hitting percentage (.228), third in kills (12.64/S) and first in service aces (2.88/S).
Leading the Leopards in kills is sophomore Abby Nieporte, sister of Bucknell junior Libby Nieporte, with 3.68 per set. She also boasts a league-best 1.32 service aces per set.
Bucknell leads 45-27 in the all-time series with the Leopards, which dates back to 1978. Lafayette has claimed each of the last three, with Bucknell's last victory in 2019.
Lafayette is led by head coach Ryan Adams, who spent four seasons over two different stints as an assistant coach with the Bison. He has a career record of 33-38.

Up Next
Bucknell remains in Lewisburg for matches against Holy Cross and Colgate next weekend. The Crusaders visit Davis Gym on Saturday, Sept. 24, and the Raiders come to town on Sunday, Sept. 25.

Volleyball Hosts Lehigh and Lafayette for First Patriot League Matches

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bri Frazilus

Jordan Hardy

Catherine Jamison

Allie Lopez

Libby Nieporte

Jen Sivak

Volleyball Hosts Lehigh and Lafayette for First Patriot League Matches

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bri Frazilus

Jordan Hardy

Catherine Jamison

Allie Lopez

Libby Nieporte

Jen Sivak

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