Bison Volleyball played on the road this past Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, and took on Patriot League competitors Lehigh and Lafayette.
Friday night, the Bison defeated the Mountain Hawks after three victorious sets. The first set went to the Bison (29-27), but Lehigh put up a fight, leading by as much as seven points at the start. The score did not even out until 24-24. After a little back-and-forth action, the set finally ended on two straight kills coming from Tijana Kostic ’26.
The second set was controlled by the Bison early on, who jumped to a 10-6 lead to start. Lehigh refused to let them get away and slowly closed the score gap, coming within two point difference. The teams evened out at 19-19 before the Bison went on a 6-2 scoring run that would give them the set.
The final set of the match saw similar play, with both teams once again trading points back and forth until the very end. The score was tied at 19-19, and this time, Lehigh found their own 3-0 run. But, the Bison wouldn’t let them get away and responded with a 4-0 of their own. Lehigh tied it up again, but a service error and kill from Cameron Lloyd ’27 would seal the deal for the Bison.
Bri Frazilus ’26 led with seventeen kills, followed by Kostic, who added ten kills and 22 digs. Caleigh O’Connell ’26 provided 21 digs and 34 assists. Jordan Hardy ’25 delivered 28 digs, putting her at fourth in Patriot League history with a career total of 1,846.
The Orange and Blue remained in eastern Pennsylvania for a game against Lafayette the next day. By the end of the weekend, the Bison were able to edge their way to the top of the league with a half-game lead over American and Colgate.
Lafayette got the first point of the day in the first set. This would mark their only lead of the set. The set was close at first, 4-3, but the Bison managed to run away with a 3-0 run that the Leopards couldn’t catch up to. Lloyd finished the set with a kill, the score ending at 25-14.
The Leopards fought for redemption in the second set, tying the Bison at 7-7. This did not last long as the Orange and Blue leapt to a 14-8 lead. They would continue to keep Lafayette at bay until the set was won 25-17.
Lafayette wasn’t finished just yet. They started the third set with an 11-4 lead, trying to rattle the Bison, who seemed unphased. The Orange and Blue countered with a 10-1 run that became a 17-2 run that would give them the advantage to then win the set, 25-17.
Amazing efforts were seen across the board from the Bison. Lloyd dominated with 16 kills, Frazilus with 13 and Sidney Shaffer ’27 with 11. Kostic added two kills and 28 digs (a career-high). O’Connell dished out 36 assists in the win.
The Bison now have a record of 17-2, 9-1 Patriot League, and look to continue improving their record as they face Navy at home on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. and American on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m.
