Volleyball Heads to The Tribe Invitational

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (2-1) at William & Mary (1-2)
When: Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.
Where: Kaplan Arena – Williamsburg, Va.
Live Stats: tribeathletics.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (2-1) vs. George Mason (1-2)
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Kaplan Arena – Williamsburg, Va.
Live Stats: tribeathletics.com

Setting the Scene, Part III
Who: Bucknell (2-1) vs. Quinnipiac (1-3)
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Kaplan Arena – Williamsburg, Va.
Live Stats: tribeathletics.com

About Bucknell

The Bison started their 46th season at the Bearcat Classic. Bucknell fell in four sets to Toledo but bounced to sweep Merrimack and Binghamton to finish 2-1 on the weekend. Binghamton was projected to finish second in the America East. Tijana Kostic and Sidney Shaffer were named to the All-Tournament Team.
None of Bucknell's matches this weekend will be streamed. Live stats will be available for all three games. The links are in this preview and on the Bucknell volleyball schedule page.
Bucknell is 17-13 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.
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 graduaton, 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.
Riley Tucker currently ranks 1st in the Patriot League and 142nd nationally in digs per set (1.20).
Hardy's career 1549 digs are 40 away from the Bucknell record of 1588 set by Brandi Trapasso.
Newcomer Bella Rodriguez introduced herself to collegiate volleyball by collecting 28 digs at the Bearcat Classic. She ranks second on the Bison behind Hardy's 38.

Scouting William & Mary/Series History

William & Mary is 1-2 on the season, defeating UTSA but were swept by Virginia at the Quest for the Crown Invite. They fell in five sets to local rival Old Dominion Wednesday night.
The Tribe finished 13-15 last season and went 8-10 in CAA play. They did not qualify for the CAA Tournament.
Junior Olivia Esposito represented the Tribe on the Preseason All-CAA Team. She dominated opposing attacks in 2023, setting a program record in blocks per set.
Head coach Ryan Adams starts his second season in charge of the Tribe.
The Williamsburg team is projected to finish ninth in the 12-team CAA.
Bucknell is 0-2 all-time against William & Mary. They lost in 1998 and at last year's Bucknell Invitational.

Scouting George Mason/Series History

The Patriots started the season 1-2, losing to Howard and American but edging UC Riverside at the DC Challenge.
George Mason finished 9-21 overall and 5-13 in the A10 last year. They did not make the A10 Tournament.
Megan Shifflett Bachmann heads into her third year as the head Patriot.
Mason was projected to finish nine in the ten-team A10. The A10 does not select a preseason all-conference team.
Bucknell is 0-4 all-time versus George Mason. Three games occurred in 1987 and 1988 while the remaining contest occurred in 2016.

Scouting Quinnipiac/Series History

The Bobcats are 1-3 in the young season, beating Rhode Island before losing to Mercer and North Florida at the North Florida Invitational. They played LIU in a midweek match and fell in five sets.
Quinnipiac enjoyed a strong 2023 season, posting a 19-10 overall record and a 14-4 mark in conference play, earning the second seed in the conference championship. Their season ended in the MAAC Championship against number one seed Fairfield.
Kyle Robinson enters his sixth season as the head coach. His 19 wins in 2023 were the highest in his tenure.
Quinnipiac was selected to finish second in the MAAC. Ginevra Giovagnoni and Damla Gunes were named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team with Giovagnoni tallying Preseason Player of the Year honors.
Bucknell is 2-0 all-time against Quinnipiac with the wins coming in 2002 and 2012.

Up Next

Bucknell completes its non-conference schedule at the Ellicott Hotels Western New York Invitational on Sept. 13-14. The Bison face Canisius on Friday and Youngstown State and Niagara on Saturday.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hardy

Sarah Hilliard

Catherine Jamison

Emily Kearney

Tijana Kostic

Libby Nieporte

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

Riley Tucker