Give Me Liberty: Volleyball Travels to the Liberty Tournament

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (0-0) vs. Stony Brook (0-0)
When: Friday, Aug. 25 at 11 a.m.
Where: Liberty Arena – Lynchburg, Va.
Live Stats: libertyflames.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (0-0) at Liberty (0-0)
When: Friday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m.
Where: Liberty Arena – Lynchburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: libertyflames.com

Setting the Scene, Part III
Who: Bucknell (0-0) vs. Gardner Webb (0-0)
When: Saturday, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m.
Where: Liberty Arena – Lynchburg, Va.
Live Stats: libertyflames.com

About Bucknell

The Bison enters its 45th season at the Liberty Tournament appropriately hosted by Liberty University. Bucknell will open the season with two Friday games against Stony Brook and Liberty and a Saturday showdown with Gardner-Webb. The Liberty matchup will be the only streamed contest, but live stats will be available for all three games. The links are in this article and on the Bucknell volleyball schedule.
Bucknell is 11-7 in non-conference matchups under Head Coach Tyler Hagstrom. Last season, the Bison were 7-2 in non-conference games, including a 6-0 start. That start was the best in Bucknell's history.
The Bison were picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll. Reigning champion Colgate was selected to repeat as title-winners. Jordan Hardy was crowned Preseason Libero of the Year. It is the first time a Bucknell libero was awarded the honor. She led the Patriot League in digs (591), 71 more than the nearest opposition, and digs per serve (5.68). Her digs per serve mark ranked her fifth in the nation. Hardy was All-Patriot League Second Team last season.
The Orange & Blue return most of their offensive and defensive prowess. Bri Frazilus, the 2022 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, totaled 293 kills to lead the team and finish fifth in the Patriot League. Senior Catherine "Cat" Jamison collected 263 kills and 277 points, both top-ten in the Patriot League. Along with the returners, the Bison welcome five newcomers to the squad.
Hagstrom enters his fourth season at the helm of the Bison herd. He is joined by third-year assistant Jeremy Young and newly hired assistant coach Haylie Clark, who recently graduated from Elon after a stellar playing career.

Scouting Stony Brook/Series History

The Seawolves finished 10-16 last season, finishing the year with a 3-1 loss to #1 seed Towson in the CAA Tournament. Stony Brook split two games to Clark's Elon squad.
Stony Brook is top and bottom heavy on experience. They have six freshmen and six seniors but only four combined sophomores and juniors. However, their most vital player, Kali Moore, is a sophomore. Moore totaled 326 kills to lead the team, and she, like Frazilus, was her conference's Rookie of the Year recipient.
Head coach Kristin Belzung enters her seventh season as the leader of the Seawolves pack. She won two America East championships in 2017 and 2018.
Stony Brook is projected to finish ninth in the 12-team CAA. Kali Moore was their sole Preseason All-Team selection.
Bucknell is 0-10 all-time against Stony Brook. The series began in 2000, and this is the first matchup since 2014.

Scouting Liberty/Series History

Liberty concluded its final ASUN season with a sparkling 23-9 overall record and a 14-2 conference mark. The Flames burnt out in the ASUN Championship Game, losing 3-0 to No. 2 Florida Gulf Coast. They were invited to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) and were defeated by Western Carolina in the first round.
As part of the massive conference realignment that shook the collegiate arena, Liberty moved conferences from the ASUN to the reconfigured CUSA.
Liberty is a transfer-heavy team with six players who started their collegiate careers at different schools.
Kamryn Bacus returns for her senior year. She fueled the Flames' attack with 357 kills. Junior Kate Phillips recorded 352 kills in 2022. Delaney Dilfer was the ASUN Setter of the Year.
Trevor Johnson enters his sixth season at Liberty. Johnson has created a regional powerhouse in Lynchburg and made an Elite Eight run in the 2019 NIVC.
Liberty was picked to finish third in the CUSA Preseason poll. Bacus and Dilfer were selected to the CUSA Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team.
Bucknell is 0-1 against Liberty. The sole matchup occurred in 1985.

Scouting Gardner-Webb/Series History

The Runnin' Bulldogs went 9-19 overall and 7-9 in Big South play last season. They did not qualify for their conference tournament.
Gardner-Webb also has a heavy transfer contingent on the team, with six such student-athletes.
Graduation hit GW hard as Kylee Garrison and Mikayla Logan, who recorded the most kills on the team, departed Boiling Springs. Avery Cole, with 206 kills, is the leading returner.
Eric Plunkett enters his third season as the head dog of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb is projected to finish fifth in the eight-team Big South. No players made the preseason team.
Bucknell is 1-0 all-time against Gardner-Webb. The Bison defeated the North Carolina team 3-0 at the Red Flash Classic in 2022.

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