<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1zpoDq_0vjQuigB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1zpoDq_0vjQuigB00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>Photo by: Laurie Hays</figcaption></figure>Setting the Scene, Part IWho: Bucknell (10-1, 2-0 Patriot) vs. Lafayette (6-5, 1-1 Patriot)When: Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.Where:Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.Live Video: ESPN+Live Stats: bucknellbison.comSetting the Scene, Part IIWho: Bucknell (10-1, 2-0 Patriot) vs. Lehigh (7-4, 1-1 Patriot)When: Sunday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m.Where:Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.Live Video: ESPN+Live Stats: bucknellbison.comAbout Bucknell<ul><li>Bucknell began the conference portion 2-0 with home victories against Holy Cross and Army. The Bison swept Holy Cross 3-0 and then defeated Army in four sets. It was Bucknell's first home win against the Black Knights since 2015. For the Bison, it is the second time in three years the program has started 2-0 in Patriot League competition. The 10-1 record ties the best start in program history.</li><li>Jordan Hardy set the program's record for career digs during the George Mason game. The senior libero surpassed Brandi Trapasso's previous total of 1588. Hardy currently sits at 1709 digs, which ranks sixth in Patriot League history. She is 12 away from fifth place, which is held by Lehigh's Emily Develle (2015-2018). </li><li>Both games will be streamed this weekend. The contests will be available on ESPN+. Live stats will be available for both games. The links are in this preview and on the Bucknell volleyball schedule page. </li><li>Bucknell is 23-13 in non-conference matchups under Head Coach Tyler Hagstrom. In 2023, Bucknell went 4-5 in non-conference games against a challenging schedule. The 2022 Bison were 7-2 in non-conference games, including a 6-0 start. That start was the best in Bucknell's history through six games. This year, the Orange &amp; Blue went 8-1. </li><li>The annual Patriot League preseason poll tabbed Bucknell to finish third. Reigning champion Colgate was picked to defend their crown. Bucknell ended Colgate's 33-game home winning streak last year in an epic five-set match. </li><li>Senior Jordan Hardy defended her title as the Preseason Libero of the Year. Hardy won the 2023 Patriot League Libero of the Year, the first time a Bison player won the honor. She and Catherine Jamison also become the first Orange &amp; Blue players to win First Team All-Patriot League honors since Heidi Kemp in 2010. The libero won the first AVCA honor in Bucknell history when she earned AVCA Northeast All-Region Honorable Mention. </li><li>Hardy led the Patriot League in digs (537), 29 more than the nearest opposition, and digs per serve (5.54). Her digs per set mark ranked seventh nationally and she helped Bucknell finish third nationally in digs per set (17.84). </li><li>The Orange &amp; Blue return a healthy core of players but did lose five pillars to graduation, including outside hitter and First Team All-Patriot League honoree Catherine Jamison and constant starter Libby Nieporte. Sophomore Sidney Shaffer, the 2023 Patriot League Rookie of the Year and member of the 2024 Patriot League Preseason Team with Hardy, returns to strengthen the Bucknell offense and defense. Along with the returners, the Bison greet three newcomers, Sarah Hilliard, Emily Kearney, and Bella Rodriguez to the team. </li><li>Hagstrom enters his fifth season at the helm of the Bison herd, having turned around a program mired in the Patriot League basement. He is joined by fourth-year assistant Jeremy Young. </li><li>Caleigh O'Connell holds second in the conference for assists per set (8.56).</li><li>Tijana Kostic has been an excellent server, currently ranking second in the circuit in service aces per set (0.49).</li><li>Frazilus ranks third in the Patriot League for kills per set (3.37).</li><li>Hardy leads the PL and slots 10th nationally in digs per set (5.08). </li><li>The team ranks 25th nationally in digs per set (16.72).</li></ul>Scouting Lafayette/Series History<ul><li>Lafayette holds a 6-5 overall and a 1-1 mark in the PL. The Leopards gained a signature win by defeating Virginia Tech. They were swept by Colgate but recovered to sweep Holy Cross to open conference play. </li><li>The Leopards finished 9-15 overall and 5-11 in conference play last season. They did not make the Patriot League Tournament and ended the season on a five-game losing streak. </li><li>Emma Patmon leads the team with 87 kills. </li><li>Christian Kiselica enters his second season as head coach. </li><li>Lafayette is projected to finish eighth in the nine-team Patriot League.</li><li>They did not place a player on the All-Patriot League Preseason Team. </li><li>Bucknell is 49-27 all-time against Lafayette and have won the last four games. </li></ul>Scouting Lehigh/Series History<ul><li>Lehigh sits at 7-4 overall and 1-1 in conference competition. They won three games by sweeping, including fellow Pennsylvanian school Saint Francis University. The Mountain Hawks opened conference play with an upset over Army in five sets before losing to league favorite Colgate. </li><li>2023 featured a good year in non-conference but the Mountain Hawks went 5-11 in the Patriot League to finish 13-14 overall. Lehigh did not make the Patriot League Tournament. </li><li>Natalie Luscomb's 110 kills rates highest on a balanced team, with four players having more than 70 kills. </li><li>Alexa Keckler enters her seventh season as the head Hawk. </li><li>Lehigh was projected to finish tied for sixth in the nine-team conference. </li><li>Senior outside hitter Megan Schulte made the All-Patriot Preseason Team. </li><li>The Mountain Hawks hold a commanding 55-32 series lead but the Bison have won the last four out of five, including a series sweep in 2023. </li></ul><ul><li>Bucknell travels down US Route 15 to the Nation's Capital and the Old Line State for its first conference road games of the season versus American (Oct. 4) and Navy (Oct. 5). </li></ul></div></body>

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Volleyball Continues Home Stretch with Weekend Games Versus Lafayette & Lehigh

Who: Bucknell (10-1, 2-0 Patriot) vs. Lafayette (6-5, 1-1 Patriot) When: Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa. Who: Bucknell (10-1, 2-0 Patriot) vs. Lehigh (7-4, 1-1 Patriot) When: Sunday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. Where:. Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa. Live Video: ESPN+