O'Connell Tabbed Preseason Patriot League Setter of the Year; Team Picked Third

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell Volleyball collected one major award and notched two spots on the preseason all-league team as announced Wednesday by the Patriot League conference office. Senior Caleigh O'Connell, the reigning Patriot League Setter of the Year, earned the preseason equivalent of the award, and along with junior middle blocker Sidney Shaffer, landed a slot on the preseason all-league team. The Bison were projected to finish third in the preseason poll.

O'Connell enters her final campaign as one of the finest setters in Bucknell history. The Bedford, New Hampshire has been the linchpin of the Bison attack, providing excellent sets for the Bucknell attacking options which include Shaffer, 2024 Patriot League All-League First Team member Bri Frazilus, juniors Cameron Lloyd and Riley Tucker, and 2024 Patriot League All-League Second Team player Tijana Kostic.

Her 2024 Setter of the Year award marked the first time a Bison player ever garnished the honor. O'Connell finished second in the 2024 Patriot League in overall assists (887) and assists per set (9.64). She has collected 2030 assists in her career and should easily enter the Bucknell top five during the upcoming season.

Shaffer represents the keystone of the Bison defense. The Californian repeatedly blunted opponent attacks in 2024, collecting 118 overall blocks and led the circuit with 1.28 blocks per set. In her two seasons, she has earned First Team and Second Team All-Patriot honors.

Perennial Patriot League champion Colgate was picked first, followed by Army which fell in last year's championship game to the Raiders, Bucknell grabbed third with traditional Patriot League powerhouse American in fourth place. Lehigh and Loyola (Md.) notched fifth and sixth place. Navy, Lafayette, and Holy Cross rounded out the nine-team poll.

Bucknell finished the 2024 season second (13-3) in the Patriot League and posted a 21-5 overall record, which included a program-record 15 game winning streak. Assistant coach Jeremy Young serves as interim head coach for the 2025 campaign after previous head coach Tyler Hagstrom was hired by Penn in July.

The Bison commence the 2025 slate at the Bobcat Invitational with a tough test against Power Four foe Iowa State on August 29.

2025 Patriot League Preseason Women's Volleyball Major Awards
Player of the Year – Milan Bayless, Colgate, Jr., OH
Setter of the Year – Caleigh O'Connell, Bucknell, So., S

Libero of the Year – Bella Marrero, American, So., L

2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Volleyball Team
Zedo Yilmaz, American, So., OH
Elise Sterling, American, So., MB
Mackenzie Lynch, Army West Point, Sr., OH

Caleigh O'Connell, Bucknell, Sr., S
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, Jr., MB
Milan Bayless, Colgate, Jr., OH
Natalie Luscomb, Lehigh, Jr., RS

Note: Student-athletes are listed alphabetically by institution

2025 Patriot League Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Colgate, 64 (8 first-place votes)
2. Army West Point, 53 (1 first-place vote)
3. Bucknell, 49
4. American, 46
5. Lehigh, 38
6. Loyola Maryland, 25
7. Navy, 24
8. Lafayette, 16
9. Holy Cross, 9

O'Connell Tabbed Preseason Patriot League Setter of the Year; Team Picked Third

Players Mentioned

Bri Frazilus

Tijana Kostic

Cameron Lloyd

Caleigh O'Connell

Sidney Shaffer

Riley Tucker

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