Bison Volleyball Stampedes Past Army in Season Finale Sweep, Will Host PL Tournament Match Tuesday Night

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell volleyball put together its best game of the season in a decisive sweep (25-10, 25-11, 25-16) of Army on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Senior Day in style. Bucknell grabbed control of the opening set and never looked back at its service academy foe. Bucknell (12-13, 9-7 Patriot League) extended its winning streak to five games, and since Colgate defeated Navy, will host the Mids in a Patriot League First Round game on Tuesday night. Army (17-8, 11-5 Patriot League) entered the contest locked into the third seed.

Sidney Shaffer has been the best player in the conference over the past month and the junior middle blocker continued her reign of terror with a game-high 12 kills and four solo blocks. She hit a scintillating .579 against an overwhelmed Army defense.

Bella Rodriguez was also uncanny accurate, hitting .571 to pair with her eight kills. Recently reclassified senior Riley Tucker celebrated the festivities with five kills on a scorching .625 hitting percentage and three block assists.

Bucknell outhit Army .345 to -.027 and gathered 39 kills to the Black Knights' 22. The Bison defense handled the Army assaults with perfect discipline. Army hit -.079 and -.057 in the first two sets and only .051 in the third set.

Senior Laura Caro and Caleigh O'Connell shared setter duties and both provided 17 assists.

The Bison shoveled 53 digs to Army's 31. Bri Frazilus and Cameron Lloyd shared the team lead with 12 apiece. Frazilus also passed the 1000-point career milestone.

The score sat 2-2 in the first set. Bucknell unleashed a 7-0 run to establish firm control. Army cut the deficit to 9-5 before a 6-0 Bucknell stretch ended any pretensions at a rally. The Orange & Blue continued to stack points and ended the set on a Tijana Kostic kill.

Army led 4-2 in the second set. Their elation was short-lived. Bucknell ripped off a 14-1 run. The Black Knights' only point arrived due to a challenge. Shaffer powered the run with four kills and two blocks. The Bison concluded the set on a 6-1 run. Tucker's two kills and two block assists fueled the victory stretch.

The Black Knights of the Hudson tallied the first point in the third and final set. The Bison of the Susquehanna quickly dismissed any concerns about a fourth set, undergoing a 7-1 run. Army did squeeze within 9-7 before a 7-2 Bucknell run finished their resolve. The Orange & Blue extended its lead to 21-11 before the Black Knights saved some face with consolation points. The match ended on a 3-0 Bucknell segment with Shaffer appropriately concluding everything on a block.

Bucknell celebrated five seniors: Laura Caro, Bri Frazilus, Tijana Kostic, Caleigh O'Connell, and Riley Tucker. The senior class won 63 games and counting in four seasons, posted a 21-5 season in 2024, hosted the program's first tournament game in 20+ years, and won multiple Patriot League honors, including the first PL Setter of the Year award in team history.

Bucknell will host Navy for Tuesday's PL First Round game.

Bison Volleyball Stampedes Past Army in Season Finale Sweep, Will Host PL Tournament Match Tuesday Night

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Team Stats

Sidney Shaffer

Bella Rodriguez

Bri Frazilus

Tijana Kostic

Players Mentioned

Laura Caro

Bri Frazilus

Tijana Kostic

Cameron Lloyd

Caleigh O'Connell

Bella Rodriguez

Sidney Shaffer

Riley Tucker