Volleyball Faces Loyola (Md.) at Davis and Travels to Colgate in Action-Packed Weekend

Saturday, October 12

Lewisburg, Pa.

3 p.m.

Bucknell University

Loyola (Md.)

Photo by: Laurie Hays

Volleyball Faces Loyola (Md.) at Davis and Travels to Colgate in Action-Packed Weekend

10/10/2024 9:41:00 AM | Volleyball

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (14-1, 6-0 Patriot) vs. Loyola (Md.) (6-9, 4-2 Patriot)
When: Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (14-1, 6-0 Patriot) at Colgate (7-9, 5-1 Patriot)
When: Saturday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.
Where: Cotterell Court – Hamilton, N.Y.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: colgateathletics.com

About Bucknell

The Bison improved to 6-0 in conference play for the first time since 1995 after the Orange & Blue defeated American in five sets and swept Navy. Bucknell only played six conference games that year. The Bison went up 2-0 on American before having to stop an ambitious American rally and winning in the final set. Navy proved less troublesome being sunk in a sweep.
Jordan Hardy continues to move up the Patriot League career leaderboard for digs, as her 41 digs increased her total to 1,783. She remains in fifth place.
Tijana Kostic collected 33 points, 24 kills, 19 digs, six service aces, six blocks, and two assists during the two wins to earn her first-ever Bison of the Week award. She hit .550 against Navy without a single attack error.
Both games will be streamed this weekend. The contests will be available on ESPN+. Live stats will be available for both games. The links are in this preview and on the Bucknell volleyball schedule page.
Bucknell is 23-13 in non-conference matchups under Head Coach Tyler Hagstrom. In 2023, Bucknell went 4-5 in non-conference games against a challenging schedule. The 2022 Bison were 7-2 in non-conference games, including a 6-0 start. That start was the best in Bucknell's history through six games. This year, the Orange & Blue went 8-1.
The annual Patriot League preseason poll tabbed Bucknell to finish third. Reigning champion Colgate was picked to defend their crown. Bucknell ended Colgate's 33-game home winning streak last year in an epic five-set match.
Senior Jordan Hardy defended her title as the Preseason Libero of the Year. Hardy won the 2023 Patriot League Libero of the Year, the first time a Bison player won the honor. She and Catherine Jamison also become the first Orange & Blue players to win First Team All-Patriot League honors since Heidi Kemp in 2010. The libero won the first AVCA honor in Bucknell history when she earned AVCA Northeast All-Region Honorable Mention.
Hardy led the Patriot League in digs (537), 29 more than the nearest opposition, and digs per serve (5.54). Her digs per set mark ranked seventh nationally and she helped Bucknell finish third nationally in digs per set (17.84).
The Orange & Blue return a healthy core of players but did lose five pillars to graduation, including outside hitter and First Team All-Patriot League honoree Catherine Jamison and constant starter Libby Nieporte. Sophomore Sidney Shaffer, the 2023 Patriot League Rookie of the Year and member of the 2024 Patriot League Preseason Team with Hardy, returns to strengthen the Bucknell offense and defense. Along with the returners, the Bison greet three newcomers, Sarah Hilliard, Emily Kearney, and Bella Rodriguez to the team.
Hagstrom enters his fifth season at the helm of the Bison herd, having turned around a program mired in the Patriot League basement. He is joined by fourth-year assistant Jeremy Young.
The Bison's 14-1 start has boosted Hagstrom's record to 52-44 (.541), easily the best percentage in Bucknell history.
O'Connell holds second in the conference for assists per set (9.28).
Tijana Kostic has been an excellent server, currently ranking first in the circuit in service aces per set (0.50) and sits 35th nationally.
Frazilus ranks second in the Patriot League for kills per set (3.45).
Hardy leads the PL and slots 14th nationally in digs per set (5.04).
The team ranks 17th nationally in digs per set (17.28).
The Bison's 14-game winning streak is tied for first nationally with Pittsburgh and South Dakota State.

Scouting Loyola (Md.)/Series History

The Greyhounds sit 6-9 overall but are 4-2 in the Patriot League having defeated Army, Holy Cross, Lafayette, and Navy. They have tasted defeat against American and Lehigh.
Loyola went 11-16 overall and 6-10 in conference play last season. They did not qualify for the conference tournament.
Lauren Link has been a force with 225 kills. She ranks first in the PL in kills per set (3.75).
Alija Pittenger enters her tenth season as the lead Greyhound.
Loyola was picked to finish sixth in the PL.
Link made the All-Patriot League Preseason Team.
Bucknell is 19-14 all-time against Loyola and swept both matches last year.

Scouting Colgate/Series History

Colgate resides at 7-9 overall but holds a 5-1 mark in the Patriot League. The Raiders played an ambitious non-conference schedule, including four Power Four opponents. They started 5-0 in conference play before dropping a four-set match to Army.
The Raiders finished 22-8 overall and 13-3 in conference last season, repeating as PL title champions for the third straight season. They posted a 13-1 record at home - the only blemish came against Bucknell. Their season ended in the NCAA First Round versus #17 Creighton.
Colgate has a balanced attack with three players recording over 100+ kills.
Ryan Baker enters his 19th season as the premier coach of the circuit with four titles.
Abby Shadwick was named the PL Preseason Player of the Year.
She was joined on the Preseason All-League Team by Gillian Hauschild.
Colgate was unanimously selected to repeat as league champions.
The Raiders leads the all-time series 47-24. Colgate's 10-game winning streak in the series and overall 33-game home winning streak was snapped last year when Bucknell upset them in Hamilton in a five-set epic.

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