Volleyball Greets American & Navy for Weekend Matches

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (17-2, 9-1 Patriot) vs. Navy (4-16, 4-7 Patriot)
When: Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (17-2, 9-1 Patriot) vs. American (19-4, 9-2 Patriot)
When: Saturday, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

About Bucknell

The Bison went 2-0 last weekend shattering Lehigh and Lafayette in two sweeps. The Bison improved to 17-2 overall and 9-1 in conference play. Bucknell holds first place by half a game over American and Colgate.
Jordan Hardy continues to move up the Patriot League career leaderboard for digs, as her total has grown to 1,860. She moved into fourth place after surpassing Army's D.J. Phee's total of 1,832.
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 17-2 start has boosted Hagstrom's record to 55-45 (.550), easily the best percentage in Bucknell history.
O'Connell holds second in the conference for assists per set (9.60).
Tijana Kostic has been an excellent server, currently ranking tied for first in the circuit in service aces per set (0.40).
Frazilus ranks tied for first in the Patriot League for kills per set (3.58).
Hardy leads the PL and slots tenth nationally in digs per set (5.21).
The team ranks fifth nationally in digs per set (18.19).
Bucknell slots 70th in the latest RPI rankings, the third-highest Pennsylvanian team behind Pitt (3) and Penn State (4).

Scouting Navy/Series History

Navy has turned the ship around in conference play, gathering four wins, after going winless in non-conference action. The Midshipmen have only forced five sets four times. Navy won three straight before losing to Colgate and Army.
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.
Farrah Eike leads the Mids with 126 kills.
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 40-25. Bucknell won the opening match in the 2024 series.

Scouting American/Series History

The Eagles remain a powerful force in the Patriot League at 19-4 overall and 9-2 in conference play. American took Maryland to five sets before losing. They recently avenged their earlier loss to Colgate to move into a tie for second place with the Raiders.
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 307, the largest mark in the PL.
Esma Sipahi's 10.01 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 5-52 all-time against American but has won three of the last four games, including a five-set epic this season in Washington, D.C. Hagstrom owns four of Bucknell's five wins versus the Eagles.

Up Next

Bucknell hits the road to play Holy Cross (Nov. 8) and Army (Nov. 9).

Volleyball Greets American & Navy for Weekend Matches

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hardy

Jordan Hardy

Sarah Hilliard

Catherine Jamison

Emily Kearney

Tijana Kostic

Libby Nieporte

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

Volleyball Greets American & Navy for Weekend Matches

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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