Nazareth College will look to defend its Empire 8 Championship title, as the 2019 season gets underway on Aug. 30, with each squad in action. The top four teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place at the home of the regular season champion and top-seed on Nov. 9-10. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2019 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship.
Players to Watch (Sorted Alphabetically by Player)
Jessica Barry, Nazareth, Jr., S, Brewerton, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse – Barry led all Empire 8 setters with 1,074 assists and added 196 digs, 42 service aces and 33 blocks to earn honorable mention accolades in 2018.
Ally Bittinger, Houghton, Sr., OH/S, Lewisberry, PA/Northern – Bittinger led all returning Houghton players with 226 kills in 2018, while adding 266 assists, 264 digs, 37 service aces and 27 blocks.
Myla Dobson, Hartwick, So., MH, Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake – Dodson slammed 172 kills and added a team-high 40 blocks during her rookie year and is expected to play an even greater role in 2019.
Meghan Romaguera, Utica, Jr., OH, Stone Ridge, NY/Rondout – Romaguera led all returning Pioneers with 206 digs, 131 kills and 12 service aces last season and will be expected to lead the team offensively in 2019.
Amber Smith, Alfred, Sr., OH, Rochester, NY/Penfield – Smith, a 2018 All-Empire 8 first team selection, was second in the league with 392 kills and 4.13 kills per set last season. She is Alfred’s career leader in rally era kills (1,121) and overall points (1,229).
Alea Steigerwald, St. John Fisher, So., OH, Rochester, NY/Penfield – Steigerwald enjoyed one of the greatest freshman seasons in Empire 8 history, earning Rookie and Player of the Year honors on her way to being named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.
Savannah Terry, Elmira, Jr., MH, Owego, NY/Owego Free Academy – Terry slammed 181 kills in 2018 and has 104 blocks over her first two seasons at Elmira, having led the team both years.
Skylar Van Alstyne, Sage, Sr., MH/RS, Castleton, NY/Maple Hill – Van Alstyne was among the team leaders in blocks last season (62) and will look to lead the way for Sage in 2019.
Team Capsules (sorted by 2018 Standings)
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers are looking for their record ninth Empire 8 Championship after storming back to win the 2018 title in a five-set thriller over Stevens. Nazareth won 23 matches and went 7-1 in league play during the 2018 season but will have to replace five starters from that squad, including All-Empire 8 second team pick and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Kelsey Milligan. Junior setter Jessica Barry returns after leading all Empire 8 setters with 1,074 assists, while adding 196 digs, 42 service aces and 33 blocks to earn honorable mention accolades. Senior middle hitter Melissa Newcomb slammed 257 kills and added 69 blocks last season, while classmate Danielle Synowski returns after compiling 169 digs.
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher returns sophomore outside hitter Alea Steigerwald, who was named the 2018 Empire 8 Rookie and Player of the Year en route to earning AVCA Honorable Mention All-American plaudits. Steigerwald led all Empire 8 players with a St. John Fisher program record 492 kills and 4.17 kills per set. In addition, she added 415 digs and 52 service aces. Junior setter Rebecca Hay was third in the league with 876 assists last season, while senior hitter Izzy Smith slammed 277 kills. The Cardinals went 6-2 in Empire 8 play last season, advancing to the league semifinals.
Alfred
The Saxons return 13 players from last season, including 2018 All-Empire 8 first team selection Amber Smith. Smith finished second in the league with 392 kills and 4.13 kills per set last season. She is Alfred’s career leader in rally era kills (1,121) and overall points (1,229). Junior setter Amanda Burns returns after dishing out 753 assists last season en route to earning All-Empire 8 honorable mention accolades. Senior libero/defensive specialist Sarah Huzyk and junior outside hitter Sarah Raeman will play key roles in 2019.
Houghton
Houghton returns eight players from last season’s team that finished .500 in league play and brings in first-year head coach Josh Tompkins. The Highlanders will look to replace 2018 All-Empire 8 second team pick Amber Edwards, who slammed 352 kills and added 296 digs a season ago. Versatile senior outside hitter/setter Ally Bittinger led all returning Houghton players with 226 kills in 2018, while adding 266 assists, 264 digs, 37 service aces and 27 blocks. In addition, sophomore setter Haley Unverdorben returns after dishing out 636 assists in 2018, while senior middle hitter Brooke Lewandowski is expected to play a larger role.
Hartwick
The Hawks return 13 players from last season’s squad, including sophomore Myla Dobson, who slammed 172 kills and added a team-high 40 blocks during her rookie year. In addition, Hartwick returns junior outside hitter Maria Sorriento, the 2017 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and 2018 All-Empire 8 second team selection, who was among the league leaders with 310 kills and 3.52 kills per set last season, while hitting .209. Junior libero/defensive specialist Katie Boak averaged 3.22 digs per set in 2018.
Elmira
First-year head coach Daniel Miranda will lead the Soaring Eagles in 2019. He takes over for Rhonda Faunce, who enjoyed an incredible 31-year career at Elmira, winning 614 games in 31 seasons, while leading the team to three NCAA Tournament Appearances. Junior middle hitter Savannah Terry slammed 181 kills last season and has 104 career blocks over her first two seasons. Junior outside hitters Lauren Smith and Lydia Milligan, along with sophomore middle hitter Kaylene Sauschuck will look to lead Elmira in 2019.
Utica
Utica has a host of players looking to make a greater impact in 2019. Junior outside hitter Meghan Romaguera was second on the team a season ago with 206 digs and 131 kills, while sophomore right side Rosemarie Fesko emerged as a solid contributor late in the season. The Pioneers will look to replace 2018 All-Empire 8 honorable mention selection Nicole Herringshaw, who hit .236 with 297 kills and 69 blocks. Seven newcomers will look to join the Pioneers lineup in 2019.
Sage
The Gators return 11 players from last season’s squad, including senior Skylar Van Alstyne and sophomore outside hitter/setter Emma Parkington, a three-time Empire 8 Rookie of the Week. Parkington led Sage in both assists (272) and kills (174) during the 2018 season. In addition, outside hitter Megan Ryder and middle hitter Miranda Nethaway, both seniors, and junior hitter Gabby Rowell all averaged more than one kill per set last season.
Final 2018 Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Standings
Stevens (23-10, 8-0 Empire 8) *
Nazareth (23-13, 7-1 E8) – League Champions
St. John Fisher (17-16, 6-2 E8)
Alfred (7-21, 5-3 E8)
Houghton (13-18, 4-4 E8)
Elmira (12-20, 2-6 E8)
Utica (5-22, 1-7 E8)
Sage (5-24, 0-8 E8)
*Stevens moved to the MAC Freedom Conference effective for the 2019 season
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The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
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