Volleyball Hosts Keystone State Foes in Weekend Matches

Saturday, October 24

Lewisburg, Pa.

4 p.m.

Bucknell University

Lehigh

Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder

10/22/2026 9:17:00 AM | Volleyball

Setting the Scene, Part I
Who: Bucknell (7-11, 3-6 PL) vs. Lehigh (13-3, 6-2 PL)
When: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 4 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym - Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

Setting the Scene, Part II
Who: Bucknell (7-11, 3-6 PL) vs. Lafayette (6-13, 0-9 PL)
When: Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym - Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell resumes action at Davis Gym this weekend to face Keystone State rivals Lehigh and Lafayette in two crucial matches. The matches will be streamed on ESPN+. The Live Stats links can be found on the Bucknell Volleyball schedule page.
The Orange & Blue dropped its second straight match to Holy Cross and third consecutive game overall on Saturday. Bucknell led 7-3 in the fifth set before the Crusaders completed the rally to break its deadlock in the standings with the Bison and gain the pivotal head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Bison were selected to finish sixth and nab the final spot in the conference tournament in the preseason poll. Defending champions American was picked to retain its crown.
Bucknell currently sits seventh in the Patriot League standings. The Bison are tied with Colgate and have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Raiders.
Bucknell went 12-14 overall and 9-7 in conference play in 2025. The season ended with a 3-2 defeat in the Patriot League First Round to Navy.
Graduation thinned the Bison ranks. 2024 Patriot League Setter of the Year Caleigh O'Connell headlined the departures. Other notable losses included backup setter Laura Caro, First Team All-Patriot League member Bri Frazilus, Second Team All-Patriot League honoree Tijana Kostic, and prominent middle blocker Riley Tucker, who graduated early and transferred to Tulane.
Plenty of talent remains in Lewisburg with two-time First Team All-Patriot League recipient Sidney Shaffer - the preeminent middle blocker in the conference. Shaffer was Bucknell's sole entry on the 2026 Patriot League Preseason Team. Cameron Lloyd switches back to outside hitter after a magnificent season as a libero, a move that significantly bolsters the position group after Frazilus' and Kostic's departures.
Two transfers, Calli Kenny and Katie O'Sullivan, arrived at Bucknell. Kenny, a setter, previously played at Marquette, while O'Sullivan, a libero, suited up for San Jose State.
Six freshmen joined the Bison, most notably, Isabella Charlton and Marion Haskell. Haskell has developed into one of Bucknell's main offensive threats but did not play last weekend. Charlton has played a crucial role in serving and backline defense.
John Post enters his first season for the Bison after a highly successful tenure as an assistant coach at Yale. Post previously helmed the men's and women's programs at Nichols College.
Peyton McGee is second in the conference in assists per set (8.46).
O'Sullivan won the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for her 36 digs against Holy Cross. The mark ranked second nationally on Saturday. The Bison have won four Defensive Player of the Week awards - second-most in the conference to American - since its resumption in 2025. Lloyd earned three last year.
O'Sullivan is sixth in the conference in digs per set (4.06).
Lloyd crossed the 1000-dig milestone this season. She is also seventh in the conference in aces per set (0.35).
Shaffer is eighth in the circuit in kills (175).

Scouting Lehigh/Series History

Lehigh is 13-3 overall and its 6-2 conference record is second behind American's 9-0 mark. The team landed a Power Four win with a 3-2 decision over West Virginia.
Its two conference losses came in five sets to American and Loyola (Md.).
The Mountain Hawks went 12-16 overall and 6-10 in the PL last season. Their season ended in the PL First Round when Army swept them.
Lehigh was picked to finish fourth in the annual preseason poll. Two Mountain Hawks, Alysia Fingall and Natalie Luscomb, were named to the preseason team.
Five Lehigh players have more than 100 kills, with Ufuoma Omene's 146 leading the squad.
Shawn McLaughlin is in his second year at Lehigh.
Bucknell trails Lehigh 36-56 in the all-time series and had won the last six matches before Lehigh swept the Bison last month.

Scouting Lafayette/Series History

The Leopards are 6-13 in 2026, having already surpassed their 2025 win total. However, the Leopards have lost ten straight matches, nine of which were in conference play, and are on the verge of elimination for the Patriot League Tournament.
Lafayette went 4-22 overall and 2-14 in Patriot League last season. They did not qualify for the conference tournament.
The Leopards were picked to finish last in the PL Preseason Poll and did not place any players on the Preseason All-League Team.
Amua Mbeche-Odhiambo leads the team with 204 kills, fourth-most in the conference.
CJ Werneke is in his second year of helming the Leopards and holds an all-time record of 10-35.
Bucknell owns the 54-27 all-time series lead and has won the last nine matches. The last match was a tense five-set affair.

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