Volleyball Hosts Bucknell Invitational

2023 Bucknell Invitational Central Page

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (1-2) vs. William & Mary (2-2)
When: Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (1-2) at Cornell (0-0)
When: Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

Setting the Scene, Part III
Who: Bucknell (1-2) vs. Princeton (0-0)
When: Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

About Bucknell

The Bison started its 45th season at the Liberty Tournament. Bucknell fell in three sets to Stony Brook and Liberty on Friday before defeating Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
Bucknell will play CAA foe William & Mary on Friday and Ivy League opponents Cornell and Princeton on Saturday. All games will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available for all three games. The links are in this article and on the Bucknell volleyball schedule page.
Niagara is also competing at the Bucknell Invitational. Every non-Bucknell game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Bucknell is 12-9 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.
Jordan Hardy currently leads the Patriot League in digs per set.

Scouting William & Mary/Series History

The Tribe are 2-2 on the young season, having just lost to Old Dominion in a midweek contest.
William & Mary finished 12-14 last season, closing the year with a 3-2 loss to #3 seed Delaware in the CAA Semifinals. William & Mary split two games to Clark's Elon squad.
Taylor Burrell leads the Tribe with 38 kills. The graduate student is entering her second season at the Virginia school after transferring from Miami (FL). Eleanor Stothoff, last year's kills leader, returns for another season.
The Tribe was picked to finish eighth in the CAA, and Stothoff was named to the All-CAA Preseason Team.
Head coach Ryan Adams is in his inaugural season as the leader of the Tribe.
Bucknell is 0-1 all-time against William & Mary. The sole matchup occurred in 1998.

Scouting Cornell/Series History

Cornell opens its season at the Bucknell Invitational.
The Big Red finished 6-17 in 2022, with a 4-10 mark in Ivy League play. They did not qualify for a postseason tournament.
Eliza Konvicka, the leading kills leader of 2022, returns to Ithaca.
The Big Red returns ten upperclassmen from the 2022 roster, including seniors Rylee Baptiste, Alexa Orent, Sydney Moore, and Kate Stration, alongside juniors Jackie Baker, Megan Bickel, Camryn Carlo, Brooke Cooper, and Sammie Engel.
Jackie Baker returns to Cornell after leading the team in digs (214) and service aces (29). Her 3.34 average per set ranked sixth in the Ivy League
Trudy Vande Berg enters her eighth season at Cornell. Vande Berg has a 74-89 record.
Cornell was picked to finish sixth in the Ivy League Preseason poll.
Bucknell is 2-15 against Cornell. The series started in 1984.

Scouting Princeton/Series History

The Tigers were incredible in 2022, going 21-4 overall and 13-1 in Ivy League. However, they were upset by Brown in the Ivy League semifinals.
Graduation was brutal for the Tigers as Avery Luoma and Melina Mahood, who recorded the most kills on the team, departed Princeton. Lucia Scalamandre, with 184 kills, is the leading returner. She was the ECAC and Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
Sabrina King enters her 12th season as the head coach of the Tigers. She has won five Ivy League crowns.
Princeton is projected to finish second in the eight-team Ivy League.
Bucknell is 0-3 all-time against Princeton. The series started in 1998.

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