Volleyball Opens Conference Play and Home Schedule Versus Holy Cross and Army

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (8-1) vs. Holy Cross (2-7)
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN +
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (8-1) vs. Army (4-5)
When: Saturday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell finished the non-conference schedule with a second-straight weekend sweep at the Ellicott Hotels Western New York Invitational. The Bison outlasted Canisius in a five-set match and then swept Youngstown State and Niagara. An All-Tournament Team was not selected but Bri Frazilus and Sidney Shaffer would have been likely honorees. The 8-1 start tied the best beginning in program history.
Shaffer received Bucknell's Bison of the Week on Sept. 16 for her performance at the Western New York Invitational. The sophomore standout recorded 36 kills on the weekend and hit .722 (13-of-18) against Youngstown State.
Hardy set the program's record for career digs during the George Mason game. The senior libero surpassed Brandi Trapasso's previous total of 1588. Hardy currently sits at 1677 digs, which ranks eighth in Patriot League history. She is 17 away from seventh place.
Only the Holy Cross game will be streamed this weekend. The contest 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.
The Army contest will serve as the program's Orange Out game. Free t-shirts will be available to Bucknell students while supplies last.
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.
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.
Frazilus ranks third in the Patriot League for kills per set (3.42).
Hardy leads the PL and slots 11th nationally in digs per set (5.19).

Scouting Holy Cross/Series History

Holy Cross is 2-7 on the season. 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.
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 43-20 all-time against Holy Cross and have won the last five out of six matches, including two wins in 2023.

Scouting Army/Series History

Army sits at 4-5 after non-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.
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 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 46-15 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 30 out of 32 games, since the Bison won two straight games in 2006.

Up Next

Bucknell continues its stay at Davis Gym with two more Patriot League games when it hosts Lafayette (Sept. 28) and Lehigh (Sept. 29).

Volleyball Opens Conference Play and Home Schedule Versus Holy Cross and Army

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bri Frazilus

Jordan Hardy

Sarah Hilliard

Catherine Jamison

Emily Kearney

Libby Nieporte

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

Volleyball Opens Conference Play and Home Schedule Versus Holy Cross and Army

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bri Frazilus

Jordan Hardy

Sarah Hilliard

Catherine Jamison

Emily Kearney

Libby Nieporte

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

Related Videos