Volleyball Hauls in Three Major Awards; Places Five on All-League Teams

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell Bison volleyball team adds to its magical season by obtaining the largest haul of league awards in program history. The Orange & Blue collected three major awards and placed five players on All-Patriot League Teams. It surpasses the previous standard of seven set by the 2000 NCAA Tournament team.

"I'm proud of our student athletes that won the awards this year," said head coach Tyler Hagstrom. "Obviously with being seeded second heading into the tournament, they have played at a high level. To get these awards is a testament to the program and how they have been playing as individuals and as a team."

Jordan Hardy repeated as Patriot League Libero of the Year. The senior earned Bucknell's first-ever Libero of the Year last season and continued her run as the foremost player at the position. Hardy also repeated as an All-Patriot League First Team member. She leads the circuit in digs (452) and digs per set (5.20). Her digs per set mark ranks tenth nationally.

Hagstrom on Hardy: "Fantastic season. She has consistently played at a high level but in the big matches she has a tendency to raise her game even more. She is definitely deserving and puts herself in the position with her play."

Hagstrom has performed amazing work in reestablishing the Bison program among the finest in the Patriot League and was rewarded by being selected as the Barry Golberg Coach of the Year. He joins Cindy Opalski (1995, 2000, 2003) as the only coaches in Bison history to win the award. Bucknell passed the 20-win mark for the first time since 2006 and its 13 conference victories are the most in program history, passing the previous record of 11 set by the 2000 squad and tied by Hagstrom's 2023 team. After the program missed the Patriot League Tournament for 12 years, Hagstrom's troops have made three straight postseas, appearances. Hagstrom's winning percentage of .556 easily slots first in the Bucknell record book.

Hagstrom on receiving Coach of the Year: "It is nice to be recognized. I look at it in terms of the coaching staff. Jeremy Young has been with me for four years. You get it because your team has been playing at a high level. It has more to do with the team and what they have accomplished this year. It has to more to do with them than me. I am happy more that they have played at a high level and won those awards."

Over the past two seasons, Caleigh O'Connell has developed into an elite setter and the league coaches took notice awarding her with Setter of the Year, marking the first time a Bison player received the laurel. O'Connell recorded 870 assists in 87 sets to lead the loop in assists per set (10.0), a mark ranking 50th nationally. She passed the 2,000-assist milestone in the regular season finale and enters the Patriot League Tournament with 2,013. The junior setter received All-Patriot League First Team honors.

Hagstrom on O'Connell: "I am excited for Caleigh. She is a great leader on and off the court and super coachable. For her, she has this ability to raise her level and lead us in tough situations. She came back at the end of that fifth set against Colgate after being injured and try to will us to victory. She is one of those kids who always puts the team first and connect with everyone and as a setter those are important qualities."

Bri Frazilus joins her teammates on the First Team. The outside hitter rebounded nicely after a slight sophomore season which came after she won 2022 Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Frazilus's strong attack netted her a career-high 314 kills, fourth best in the Patriot League, and she led the circuit in kills per set (3.65). She has been on a hot stretch with nine straight games of double-digit kills.

Hagstrom on Frazilus: "Bri had a fantastic season offensively scoring points and defensively as a blocker. She raised her level of play this year and has been able to maintain that level of play all season. She came ready all throughout league play and made some big kills for us in big moments. I am happy for her with how she has been able to up her game."

2023 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Sidney Shaffer's inclusion set a Bison record for First Team nods with four, shattering the previous mark of two by the 2000, 2003, and 2023 squads. Shaffer had been a colossus all season at the net with 111 blocks. She leads the Patriot League in blocks per set (1.28), a total ranking 35th nationally. Her 90 block assists are two away from entering the Bison top five. Shaffer slotted at Second Team last year.

Hagstrom on Shaffer: "Sidney had a fantastic rookie year but she was even better this year. She put in the work all spring and summer to take her game to the next level and we were able to set her a whole bunch. In our league, she probably received the most attempts out of any middle blocker and were able to feed her into tough situations. It goes to show that she was up to the task. She did a nice job offensively for us and her blocking numbers were great. She did plenty for the program this year."

Tijana Kostic rounds out the Bison award winners by taking home Second Team honors. The opposite has been equally adept at offensive and defensive maneuvers with career-high 222 kills and 269 digs. She ranks tenth in the PL in points (289). Kostic ranks second in the circuit in aces per set (0.38).

Hagstrom on Kostic: "She has added more and more to her responsibility list every year. She played a little her rookie year and did well. As a sophomore, she was used more as an outside hitter. Entering this year, we felt her role could expand this year. It is her first year as a six-rotation to the right side where she is passing and playing defense. She had a great serve this year."

The Bison earned the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Tournament and will travel to Colgate for Friday's semifinal game at 2:30 p.m. The Orange & Blue will face the highest-remaining seed from the quarterfinals. The Championship match is scheduled for Sunday at Colgate.

2024 Patriot League Women's Volleyball Major Award Winners
Player of the Year: Milan Bayless, Colgate, So., OH
Setter of the Year: Caleigh O'Connell, Bucknell, Jr., S
Libero of the Year: Jordan Hardy, Bucknell, Sr., L
Rookie of the Year: Zedo Yilmaz, American, Fr., OH
The Barry Goldberg Coach of the Year: Tyler Hagstrom, Bucknell

First Team*
Esma Sipahi, American, Sr., S
Lilou Stegeman, American, Sr., MB
Zedo Yilmaz, American, Fr., OH
Mackenzie Lynch, Army West Point, Jr., OH
Kingsley Wallace, Army West Point, Sr., RS
Bri Frazilus, Bucknell, Jr., OH
Jordan Hardy, Bucknell, Sr., L
Caleigh O'Connell, Bucknell, Jr., S
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, So., MB
Milan Bayless, Colgate, So., OH
Abby Shadwick, Colgate, Sr., OH
Emily Stewart, Lehigh, Sr., MB

Second Team
Juliette Myrick, Army West Point, So., S
Chloe Murakami, Army West Point, Jr., OH
Tijana Kostic, Bucknell, Jr., OPP
Tiana Owens, Colgate, Fr., RS
Sydney Jones, Colgate, Sr., S
Kyleigh Brown, Lehigh, Sr., L
Natalie Luscomb, Lehigh, Jr., RS
Lauren Link, Loyola Maryland, Gr., OH
Kacy Sekunda, Loyola Maryland, Sr., S/OPP
Farrah Eike, Navy, Fr., OH
Note: Student-athletes are listed alphabetically by institution
*Due to a tie in voting, there are 12 members on the first team.

Volleyball Hauls in Three Major Awards; Places Five on All-League Teams

Players Mentioned

Bri Frazilus

Jordan Hardy

Tijana Kostic

Caleigh O'Connell

Sidney Shaffer

Related Videos