Volleyball Hits Eastern Pennsylvania to Play Lafayette & Lehigh

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (15-2, 7-1 Patriot) at Lehigh (12-7, 5-4 Patriot)
When: Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.
Where: Grace Hall – Bethlehem, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: lehighsports.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (15-2, 7-1 Patriot) at Lafayette (6-12, 1-8 Patriot)
When: Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m.
Where: Kirby Sports Center – Easton, Pa.
Live Video: Lafayette Sports Network
Live Stats: goleopards.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell beat Loyola (Md.) to improve to 15-1 overall and 7-1 in conference play before falling in four sets to reigning league champion Colgate to shatter the Bison's nation best 15-game winning streak. The Orange & Blue were off last weekend with a conference-mandated bye.
Jordan Hardy continues to move up the Patriot League career leaderboard for digs, as her total has grown to 1,818. She remains in fifth place but is 15 away from surpassing Army's D.J. Phee for fourth.
Both games will be streamed this weekend. The contests will be available on ESPN+ and the Lafayette Sports Network. 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 15-2 start has boosted Hagstrom's record to 53-45 (.540), easily the best percentage in Bucknell history.
O'Connell holds second in the conference for assists per set (9.39).
Tijana Kostic has been an excellent server, currently ranking first in the circuit in service aces per set (0.44).
Frazilus ranks second in the Patriot League for kills per set (3.43).
Hardy leads the PL and slots 17th nationally in digs per set (5.03).
The team ranks 19th nationally in digs per set (17.08).

Scouting Lehigh/Series History

Lehigh sits at 12-7 overall and 5-4 in conference competition. The Mountain Hawks opened conference play with an upset over Army in five sets before losing to league favorite Colgate. They beat Holy Cross twice to improve over .500 in conference competition.
2023 featured a good year in non-conference play but the Mountain Hawks went 5-11 in the Patriot League to finish 13-14 overall. Lehigh did not make the Patriot League Tournament.
Natalie Luscomb's 192 kills rates highest on a balanced team, with five players having more than 100 kills.
Alexa Keckler enters her seventh season as the head Hawk.
Lehigh was projected to finish tied for sixth in the nine-team conference.
Senior outside hitter Megan Schulte made the All-Patriot Preseason Team.
The Mountain Hawks hold a commanding 55-33 series lead but the Bison have won the last five out of six, including a victory earlier this year in Davis Gym.

Scouting Colgate/Series History

Lafayette sits at 6-12 overall and a 1-8 mark in the PL. The Leopards gained a signature win by defeating Virginia Tech. They were swept by Colgate but recovered to sweep Holy Cross to open conference play. Since then, the Leopards have lost seven straight games.
The Leopards finished 9-15 overall and 5-11 in conference play last season. They did not make the Patriot League Tournament and ended the season on a five-game losing streak.
Emma Patmon leads the team with 117 kills.
Christian Kiselica enters his second season as head coach.
Lafayette is projected to finish eighth in the nine-team Patriot League.
They did not place a player on the All-Patriot League Preseason Team.
Bucknell is 50-27 all-time against Lafayette and have won the last five games.

Up Next

Bucknell returns to Davis Gym for matches versus Navy (Nov. 1) and American (Nov. 2).

Volleyball Hits Eastern Pennsylvania to Play Lafayette & Lehigh

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hardy

Jordan Hardy

Sarah Hilliard

Catherine Jamison

Emily Kearney

Tijana Kostic

Libby Nieporte

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

Volleyball Hits Eastern Pennsylvania to Play Lafayette & Lehigh

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hardy

Jordan Hardy

Sarah Hilliard

Catherine Jamison

Emily Kearney

Tijana Kostic

Libby Nieporte

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

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