Volleyball Dips Below the Mason-Dixon Line to Face American and Navy

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (12-1, 4-0 Patriot) at American (13-3, 3-1 Patriot)
When: Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
Where: Bender Arena – Washington, D.C.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: aueagles.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (12-1, 4-0 Patriot) at Navy (0-13, 0-4 Patriot)
When: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m.
Where: Wesley A. Brown Field House – Annapolis, Md.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: navysports.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell moved to 4-0 in conference play for the first season since 2003 when the Bison swept Lafayette and handled Lehigh in four sets last weekend. The Bison set a program record for a win streak with 12 games and the 12-1 start replaces 2022's 11-2 beginning as the best opening salvo in program history.
Jordan Hardy continues to move up the Patriot League career leaderboard for digs, as her 33 digs increased her total to 1,742, displacing Lehigh's Emily Develle (1,721) from fifth place. Fittingly, Hardy broke Develle's mark during the Lehigh game.
Caleigh O'Connell collected 88 assists during the weekend. She was remarkably consistent, totaling 44 assists for each match. The setter played exceptional defense against Lehigh, notching 22 digs, establishing a new career-high. Her accomplishments won the junior her first Bison of the Week and Patriot League Player of the Week.
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 12-1 start has boosted Hagstrom's record to 50-44 (.531), easily the best percentage in Bucknell history.
O'Connell holds second in the conference for assists per set (9.17).
Tijana Kostic has been an excellent server, currently ranking first in the circuit in service aces per set (0.46).
Frazilus ranks second in the Patriot League for kills per set (3.53).
Hardy leads the PL and slots 12th nationally in digs per set (5.02).
The team ranks 18th nationally in digs per set (17.09).
The Bison's 12-game winning streak ranks second nationally behind South Dakota State's 13-game mark.

Scouting American/Series History

The Eagles remain a powerful force in the Patriot League at 13-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play. American took Maryland to five sets before losing. Against PL foes, they swept Holy Cross, Loyola (Md.), and Navy while losing in four sets to Colgate.
American finished 20-11 overall and 11-5 in the Patriot League last year. They made the tournament as the third seed and upset No. 2 Army before being swept by Colgate in the championship game.
Zedo Yilmaz leads the team in kills with 206, the largest mark in the PL.
Esma Sipahi's 9.85 assists per set tops the circuit.
Ahen Kim enters his second year as head coach. He spent six seasons as the assistant coach at American from 2012-17.
American was picked to finish second in the nine-team Patriot League.
Esma Sipahi made the All-Patriot League Preseason Team.
Bucknell is 4-52 all-time against American but has won two of the last four games.

Scouting Navy/Series History

Navy seeks its first win of the 2024 season, sitting 0-13 overall and 0-4 in conference play. The Midshipmen have only forced five sets three times. They have started conference play losing to American, Army, Colgate, and Loyola (Md.).
Last year, Navy went 18-9 overall and 9-7 in PL play. The Mids collected sweeps over Maryland and Syracuse. They made the conference tournament as the fifth seed. Navy upset No. 4 Bucknell before falling to top-seeded Colgate in the semifinals.
Ava Toppin leads the Mids with 75 kills. Her .315 hitting percentage ranks eighth in the conference.
Paco Labrador enters his seventh season as the head admiral of the Midshipmen.
Navy was projected to finish fifth in the nine-team Patriot League.
The Mids were not represented on the All-Patriot Preseason Team.
Navy leads the all-time series 40-24. The teams split the regular season series but Navy swept Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament spoiling the first playoff game at Bucknell in 20 years.

Up Next

Bucknell hosts Loyola (Md.) on Oct 12. before traveling to remote Hamilton to face undefeated in conference and reigning league champion Colgate on Oct. 13.

Volleyball Dips Below the Mason-Dixon Line to Face American and Navy

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hardy

Jordan Hardy

Sarah Hilliard

Catherine Jamison

Emily Kearney

Tijana Kostic

Libby Nieporte

Caleigh O'Connell

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

Volleyball Dips Below the Mason-Dixon Line to Face American and Navy

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hardy

Jordan Hardy

Sarah Hilliard

Catherine Jamison

Emily Kearney

Tijana Kostic

Libby Nieporte

Caleigh O'Connell

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

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