Bucknell University Athletics
Update from Head Volleyball Coach Tyler Hagstrom -- November 2023
PATRIOT LEAGUE
American: L 1-3
Holy Cross: W 3-0
Holy Cross: W 3-1
Colgate: W 3-2
Army: W 3-1
Loyola: W 3-0
Navy: W 3-1
Â
Dear Bucknell Volleyball Friends and Family,
It’s hard to believe that we’re already nearing the end of our 2023 season. Since my last letter to you, we have passed the midway point of the Patriot League schedule and have achieved some big milestones along the way as a team and as a program!
We opened the month of October by welcoming American and Holy Cross to Davis Gymnasium. The weekend did not begin in our favor, as the Eagles won in four sets despite a total team effort with 11 players contributing on offense. Senior Cat Jamison led us with 12 kills, and junior Jordan Hardy picked up 18 digs. Senior Allie Lopez sparked the team late with seven kills. We regrouped overnight and defeated Holy Cross in three sets the next day. Jamison and first-year Sidney Shaffer contributed 10 kills each, with Shaffer earning a team-best .400 hitting percentage. Hardy scooped up 20 digs in just three sets. First-year Riley Tucker led the team with four blocks, and first-year Cameron Lloyd, who plays six rotations, added nine kills of her own.
Our next game marked the second half of the Patriot League season with a rematch against Holy Cross, this time in Worcester. The Crusaders always play tough at their place, but other than a lull in the second set, we stayed aggressive from start to finish and won in four sets. Sophomore Bri Frazilus led the way with 15 kills, followed by Lloyd’s 14 kills. Shaffer had six blocks, and sophomore Caleigh O’Connell picked up a team-high 13 digs.
The following weekend sent us back on another long road trip as we traveled to Patriot League-leading Colgate and second-place Army. At Colgate, we lost a very tight first set 31-33 but responded well and battled back and forth all night to force a fifth set. In the deciding game, we never trailed and secured our first victory over Colgate since 2017. Our road win also ended Colgate’s 33-match Patriot League home win streak! It was truly a team effort, as Jamison (with a team-high 18 kills), Frazilus, Shaffer, and Lloyd all tabbed double-digit kills, with Tucker almost joining them. Hardy earned 33 digs and was supported by O’Connell, Lloyd, senior Libby Nieporte, and sophomore Laura Caro, who all also got double-digit digs. Shaffer and Tucker combined for 14 blocks.
After a very late night of travel, we arrived at Army and prepared to pull off another big upset in back-to-back matches. Our first match against the Black Knights earlier this season was a three-set loss but still competitive. In the rematch, we were victorious in a four-set win during which every set was decided by two points, including a wild 38-36 first-set win. It was our first victory against Army since 2015 and Bucknell’s first victory at West Point since 2003! Jamison again led the way offensively with 18 kills, while Frazilus, Shaffer, Lloyd, and Tucker all contributed nine kills apiece. Hardy collected 34 more digs, and Nieporte gathered a career-high 27 digs of her own. Lloyd, O’Connell, and Caro also reached double-digit digs. Tucker posted a team-high six blocks, and sophomore Tijana Kostic added two blocks and six kills when called upon in crucial moments.
Most recently, we have had to endure some unexpected challenges with injuries to key players. It helped to be back home in Davis Gymnasium, and in two of our grittiest performances of the season, we finished October with our fourth 2-0 weekend of Patriot League play. This past Friday, we swept Loyola for the second time this season, as Caro set full-time and led the team to the win. Jamison, who earlier in the week was named Patriot League Player of the Week and Bison of the Week, led with 12 kills. Shaffer, who picked up Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors, had five kills, three blocks, and an ace. Tucker had a team-high five blocks, and Hardy had a team-high 16 digs. First-year Kaitlyn Taylor played a big role defensively with nine digs and an ace.
The next day, we avenged another earlier Patriot League loss by defeating Navy in four sets. Jamison was unstoppable with 20 kills and a .375 hitting percentage. Hardy was equally impressive in the back row with 23 digs. Caro again set the team to victory by finding Jamison early and often, Shaffer and Tucker at timely moments, and Kostic toward the end to ensure the win. The team picked up six aces on just seven service errors. The win over Navy was our ninth victory of the Patriot League season, the most since 2006!
Our last home weekend brings Lafayette and Lehigh to Lewisburg. We look forward to competing with our in-state rivals while also honoring our senior class, and we hope to see you in the stands! If you’re unable to make it, our matches also will be streamed on ESPN+.
Thank you for your continued support!
Tyler Hagstrom
Head Volleyball Coach
Bucknell University
tmh027@bucknell.edu
Â
Past Newsletters:
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.
American: L 1-3
Holy Cross: W 3-0
Holy Cross: W 3-1
Colgate: W 3-2
Army: W 3-1
Loyola: W 3-0
Navy: W 3-1
Â
Dear Bucknell Volleyball Friends and Family,
It’s hard to believe that we’re already nearing the end of our 2023 season. Since my last letter to you, we have passed the midway point of the Patriot League schedule and have achieved some big milestones along the way as a team and as a program!
We opened the month of October by welcoming American and Holy Cross to Davis Gymnasium. The weekend did not begin in our favor, as the Eagles won in four sets despite a total team effort with 11 players contributing on offense. Senior Cat Jamison led us with 12 kills, and junior Jordan Hardy picked up 18 digs. Senior Allie Lopez sparked the team late with seven kills. We regrouped overnight and defeated Holy Cross in three sets the next day. Jamison and first-year Sidney Shaffer contributed 10 kills each, with Shaffer earning a team-best .400 hitting percentage. Hardy scooped up 20 digs in just three sets. First-year Riley Tucker led the team with four blocks, and first-year Cameron Lloyd, who plays six rotations, added nine kills of her own.
Our next game marked the second half of the Patriot League season with a rematch against Holy Cross, this time in Worcester. The Crusaders always play tough at their place, but other than a lull in the second set, we stayed aggressive from start to finish and won in four sets. Sophomore Bri Frazilus led the way with 15 kills, followed by Lloyd’s 14 kills. Shaffer had six blocks, and sophomore Caleigh O’Connell picked up a team-high 13 digs.
The following weekend sent us back on another long road trip as we traveled to Patriot League-leading Colgate and second-place Army. At Colgate, we lost a very tight first set 31-33 but responded well and battled back and forth all night to force a fifth set. In the deciding game, we never trailed and secured our first victory over Colgate since 2017. Our road win also ended Colgate’s 33-match Patriot League home win streak! It was truly a team effort, as Jamison (with a team-high 18 kills), Frazilus, Shaffer, and Lloyd all tabbed double-digit kills, with Tucker almost joining them. Hardy earned 33 digs and was supported by O’Connell, Lloyd, senior Libby Nieporte, and sophomore Laura Caro, who all also got double-digit digs. Shaffer and Tucker combined for 14 blocks.
After a very late night of travel, we arrived at Army and prepared to pull off another big upset in back-to-back matches. Our first match against the Black Knights earlier this season was a three-set loss but still competitive. In the rematch, we were victorious in a four-set win during which every set was decided by two points, including a wild 38-36 first-set win. It was our first victory against Army since 2015 and Bucknell’s first victory at West Point since 2003! Jamison again led the way offensively with 18 kills, while Frazilus, Shaffer, Lloyd, and Tucker all contributed nine kills apiece. Hardy collected 34 more digs, and Nieporte gathered a career-high 27 digs of her own. Lloyd, O’Connell, and Caro also reached double-digit digs. Tucker posted a team-high six blocks, and sophomore Tijana Kostic added two blocks and six kills when called upon in crucial moments.
Most recently, we have had to endure some unexpected challenges with injuries to key players. It helped to be back home in Davis Gymnasium, and in two of our grittiest performances of the season, we finished October with our fourth 2-0 weekend of Patriot League play. This past Friday, we swept Loyola for the second time this season, as Caro set full-time and led the team to the win. Jamison, who earlier in the week was named Patriot League Player of the Week and Bison of the Week, led with 12 kills. Shaffer, who picked up Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors, had five kills, three blocks, and an ace. Tucker had a team-high five blocks, and Hardy had a team-high 16 digs. First-year Kaitlyn Taylor played a big role defensively with nine digs and an ace.
The next day, we avenged another earlier Patriot League loss by defeating Navy in four sets. Jamison was unstoppable with 20 kills and a .375 hitting percentage. Hardy was equally impressive in the back row with 23 digs. Caro again set the team to victory by finding Jamison early and often, Shaffer and Tucker at timely moments, and Kostic toward the end to ensure the win. The team picked up six aces on just seven service errors. The win over Navy was our ninth victory of the Patriot League season, the most since 2006!
Our last home weekend brings Lafayette and Lehigh to Lewisburg. We look forward to competing with our in-state rivals while also honoring our senior class, and we hope to see you in the stands! If you’re unable to make it, our matches also will be streamed on ESPN+.
Thank you for your continued support!
Tyler Hagstrom
Head Volleyball Coach
Bucknell University
tmh027@bucknell.edu
Â
Past Newsletters:
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.