Bison Volleyball fell to the fourth-seed Army Black Knights in the Patriot League Semifinals. The Bison volleyball team had an incredible season, with a record of 21-5. Against Army, they had an intense match, needing all five sets. 

The Black Knights started and ended the first set dominantly with a score of 12-25, Bucknell loss. This lit a fire in the Bison, stealing the second set with a score of 25-18. Bri Fralius ’26 provided four kills to overpower Army. Moving to the third, Army regained strength and went on multiple streaks to win with a score of 15-25. In the fourth, Bucknell needed to win to stay afloat, and so they did. With a strong team effort and willpower, Bucknell dominated early at 9-5. The Black Knights did not back down, returning with a 7-2 run, putting the Bison down by one. Frazlius stepped up, tying the game at 12-12. Going back and forth, the Bison and Black Knights fought for the lead, resulting in a tie at 22-22. Cameron Lloyd ’27 provided a crucial kill, with Caleigh O’Connell ’26 and Sidney Shaffer ’27 blocking Army’s next attempt, ending the set with a win of 25-23. 

The fifth and final set was a battle. Army took the lead, but Bucknell fought to tie. The Black Knights, though, were able to go on a 7-3 run. The Bison attempted to even the score, tying Army three separate times. Tijana Kostic ’26 tallied eight kills, and Shaffer added seven. O’Connell provided the team with 17 assists, coupled with Laura Caro ’26, who provided 22 assists. This, though, was not enough to defeat the Black Knights. The Army Black Knights finished the set with a score of 11-15, winning the semifinal match and ending the Bison’s season. 

Still, Bison Volleyball tallied many awards in the 2024 season. Their .808 winning percentage broke the previous record of .788, set by the 1995 team, with a record of 26-7. Fralius, O’Connell, Jordan Hardy ’25 and Sidney Shaffer were placed on the Patriot League First Team, with Kostic placed on the Patriot League Second Team. O’Connell was deemed Patriot League Setter of the Year. She concluded the regular season leading in the Patriot League in assists per set (10.00) while ranking second in total assists (870). In all 25 matches for Bucknell, O’Connell provided double-digit assists. Hardy ended an incredible career by earning the Patriot League Libero of the Year award, the second Patriot League title earned in her career. She finished the regular season with 452 digs, 5.20 digs per set, leading the Patriot League. She ranked 10th in NCAA Division I. In addition, Hardy earned multiple Player of the Week honors throughout her career while also being selected to the First Team All-Patriot League in 2023 and a Second-Team honoree in 2022.

Lastly, Coach Tyler Hagstrom was awarded the Patriot League Barry Goldberg Coach of the Year. Coach Hagstromg led the Bison to a program-record of 13 league wins, being the number two seed in the Patriot League Championships. Hagstrom is Bucknell’s first coach since 2003 to hold an overall record of 59-47 in five seasons. Bison Volleyball had a record-setting season, and as it has come to a close, says goodbye to seniors Jen Sivak and Hardy.