Volleyball Faces Holy Cross & Army in Final Two-Game Road Weekend

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (19-2, 11-1 Patriot) at Holy Cross (2-20, 0-13 Patriot)
When: Friday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.
Where: Coach George Blaney '61 Gymnasium – Worcester, Mass.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: goholycross.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (19-2, 11-1 Patriot) at Army (11-11, 7-6 Patriot)
When: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m.
Where: Gillis Field House – West Point, N.Y.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: goarmywestpoint.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell continues its run of 2-0 weekends via sweeps by defeating Navy & American at home. The Bison sank Navy in straight sets and obtained its first-ever sweep over American. The Orange & Blue increased its overall record to 19-2 and 11-1 in PL competition and remain ahead by half a game over second-place Colgate in the conference standings.
Jordan Hardy continues to move up the Patriot League career leaderboard for digs, as her total has grown to 1,893. 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 19-2 start has boosted Hagstrom's record to 57-45 (.558), easily the best percentage in Bucknell volleyball history.
Caleigh O'Connell holds second in the conference for assists per set (9.77), which ranks 66th nationally.
Tijana Kostic has been an excellent server, currently ranking tied for first in the circuit in service aces per set (0.38).
Frazilus ranks tied for first in the Patriot League for kills per set (3.64).
Hardy leads the PL and slots ninth nationally in digs per set (5.23).
The team ranks fourth nationally in digs per set (18.25).
Bucknell slots 59th in the latest RPI rankings, the third-highest Pennsylvanian team behind Pitt (3) and Penn State (4).

Scouting Holy Cross/Series History

Holy Cross is 2-20 overall and 0-13 in Patriot League play. They started the season with a win over Siena before losing six straight games to Stonehill, Purdue Fort Wayne, UTSA, Incarnate Word, Abilene Christian, and Bryant. They swept Merrimack to halt the skid before falling to Central Connecticut State. They have lost 11 conference games via sweeps including five straight matches entering Friday's game.
The Crusaders underwent a dismal 2023 season, finishing 4-21 overall and 1-15 in the Patriot League. They did not qualify for the Patriot League Tournament.
Kathleen Colpoys enters her sixth season as the head Crusader.
The Worcester school was projected to finish last in the nine-team Patriot League.
They did not place a player on the All-Patriot League Preseason Team.
Bucknell is 44-20 all-time against Holy Cross and have won the last six out of seven matches, including the first 2024 matchup in Lewisburg when Bucknell prevailed via a sweep.

Scouting Army/Series History

Army sits at 11-11 overall and 7-6 in conference play. The Black Knights struck down Hampton, Oakland, Xavier, and Sacred Heart while being vanquished by Buffalo, Saint Louis, Illinois State, Hofstra, and Bryant in non-conference competition. Notable conference wins are two wins over rival Navy and a four-set upset of Colgate. The Black Knights are a young team but accelerated the rebuilding process this year.
Traditionally one of the Patriot League's volleyball powerhouses, West Point finished 14-12 overall and 11-5 in Patriot League play last campaign. They earned the #2 seed in the PL Tournament but were swept by American in the semifinals.
Alma Kovaci Lee enters her 18th season in charge of the Black Knights.
The Black Knights of the Hudson were selected to finish fourth in the Patriot League but did not place a player on the All-Patriot League Preseason Team.
Army leads the all-time series 46-16 but the Bison broke the Black Knights's 13-game winning streak last year with a four-set win at West Point. Bucknell won the first set 38-36 after noticing Army served out of order on the apparent set-winning point. It was Bucknell's first win at Army since 2003. The Black Knights have won 31 of the last 33 games. Bucknell has won two straight games against Army for the first since 2006 after the Bison defeated the Hudson River team earlier this year.

Up Next

Bucknell completes the regular season next weekend with a road trip to Loyola (Md.) on Nov. 15 and then celebrates Senior Day on Nov. 16 when Colgate travels to Lewisburg for a massive showdown.

Volleyball Faces Holy Cross & Army in Final Two-Game Road Weekend

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 Faces Holy Cross & Army in Final Two-Game Road Weekend

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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