Volleyball Hosts Navy to Begin Second Half of Conference Schedule

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (7-10, 4-4 Patriot League) vs. Navy (7-10, 3-5 Patriot League)
When: Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym - Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell returns to Davis Gym to begin the second half of the conference schedule when the Navy Midshipmen sail into Lewisburg. The two teams just squared off last Saturday in Annapolis. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. The Live Stats link can be found on the Bucknell Volleyball schedule page. Live updates will be tweeted on Bucknell Volleyball's X account.
The Bison were swept by Army last Friday and led Navy on Saturday two sets to one before the Mids rallied for the five-set victory.
Star setter Caleigh O'Connell ranks second in the loop with 9.26 assists per set.
Cameron Lloyd sits fourth in the conference with 4.27 digs per set.
The Bison were selected to finish third in the Patriot League preseason poll behind reigning champion Colgate and Army. Bucknell lost 3-2 in the Patriot League semifinals last year to the Black Knights of the Hudson.
Caleigh O'Connell returns for her senior season after winning 2024 Patriot League Setter of the Year. O'Connell picked up the 2025 preseason edition of the honor and along with Sidney Shaffer landed on the All-Patriot League Preseason team.
Tijana Kostic has one final year with the Bison after notching Second Team honors in 2024.
The program lost two-time Patriot League Libero of the Year Jordan Hardy to graduation. She was the first Bison to win the award and earn AVCA Honorable Mention honors. Hardy graduated as the program's all-time leader in digs with 1986.
Five freshmen join the Bison for 2025: Avery Bryan, Stephanie Eroh, Brynna Guy, Peyton McGee, and Klea Tarja. Four of the five players have seen action for Bucknell.
Bucknell has a new head coach at the helm. Tyler Hagstrom, who rebuilt the program, left in July for the head position at Penn. Assistant coach Jeremy Young was elevated to interim head coach. Young enters his fifth year overall in Lewisburg.

Scouting Navy/Series History

Navy went 7-18 overall and 7-9 in PL play last year and missed the conference tournament.
The Mids scaled back their non-conference schedule this year and currently sit at 7-10 overall and 3-5 in PL play. They defeated Bucknell, Holy Cross, and Lafayette for their conference triumphs.
Bucknell and Navy did not have any overlap in non-conference foes.
Navy was slotted to finish seventh in the conference and did not place a player on the Preseason All-PL squad.
Ava Toppin is one of the league's most proficient attackers, ranking third in hitting percentage (.347).
Toppin won Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday for her performances last weekend.
Paco Labrador enters his eighth season as the head coach of Navy with a solid 105-85 overall record.
Navy owns the all-time record 41-26 and is looking to sweep the Bison after being swept in 2024 by the Orange & Blue.

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