Alfred University Aims To Repeat as Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Champions in 2024

Women's Volleyball | 8/22/2024 9:59:19 AM

 
In addition, the Empire 8 postseason format has expanded, as the top eight teams will advance to the E8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round action taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Semifinal action will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14 and the championship match will commence Saturday, Nov. 16, with all matches played at the higher seed. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship.
 
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
   
Monalissa Carius, Russell Sage, Sr., MB/OPP, Hudson, NY/Hudson – Carius missed all last season due to injury but was among the Empire 8 leaders in blocks during the 2022 season.
 
Emma Cole, Houghton, Jr., MB, Houghton, NY/Fillmore – Cole, who also excels on the basketball court for the Highlanders, tallied 162 kills in 2022 and 163 last season. She was an All-E8 third team selection in 2022.
 
Brennah Durfee, SUNY Poly, Sr., OH, Sherill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill – Durfee slammed 118 kills and added 211 digs for the Wildcats in 2023.
 
Dayna Edholm, Keuka, Gr., OH, Buffalo, NY/Sweet Home – A two-time Empire 8 Player to Watch, Edholm earned All-Empire 8 first team accolades in 2023 after leading the league with 404 kills, 4.25 kills per set and 4.79 points per set. She was also an All-E8 third team pick in 2022.
 
Madison Gamberg, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., MB, Rockville Centre, NY/South Side – Gamberg earned All-SUNYAC third team accolades in 2023 after slamming 120 kills to go along with 91 blocks, which was second in the league.
 
Tessa Grover, Nazareth, Jr., S/RS, Penfield, NY/Penfield – Grover, a three-time All-Empire 8 first team selection and 2021 E8 Rookie of the Year, was among the Empire 8 leaders in kills, blocks, and points per set in 2023. She is just 272 kills shy of 1,000 for her career and was an AVCA All-Region first team pick in 2023.
 
Braelyn Hornick, Hartwick, Jr., S, Candor, NY/Candor – Hornick, the 2022 Empire 8 Player of the Year, returns after missing all last season due to injury. In 2022, Hornick, an AVCA All-Region selection, led the league with 851 assists and 9.35 assists per set, while adding 49 service aces.
 
Lauren Jones, Utica, Jr., S, West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham – Jones is set to take over as Utica’s starting setter in 2024. She slammed 133 kills, added 216 digs, 47 service aces, 39 blocks and 262 assists in 2023.
 
Taylor Malone, Alfred, Jr., OH, Horseheads, NY/Horseheads – Malone earned All-Empire 8 first team honors and AVCA All-Region accolades after recording 363 kills, 215 digs and 25 service aces in 2023.
 
Kaylene Noble, St. John Fisher, So., OH, Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius – Noble became just the second player in E8 history to be named both the Player and Rookie of the Year last season. She recorded 338 kills to go along with 251 digs, 36 blocks and 33 service aces.
 
Morgan Richardson, Elmira, Sr., OH, Syracuse, NY/Westhill – Richardson slammed 166 kills to go along with 107 digs and 33 service aces in 2023.
 
Alenna Williamson, SUNY Brockport, Jr., MB, Roanoke, VA/Rockbridge – Williamson earned All-SUNYAC third team honors last season after leading the Golden Eagles with a .286 hitting percentage and 51 total blocks to go along with 177 kills.
   
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher had its 48-match winning streak against Empire 8 opponents dating back to the start of 2019 snapped in the Empire 8 Tournament, as the Cardinals were looking to be the first team in Empire 8 history to win five straight league titles. The Cardinals return 15 players and five starters from last season team that won 17 games overall and won 24 of 25 sets in league play, including 2023 Empire 8 Player and Rookie of the Year Kaylene Noble and junior libero Kiera Hartpence, the 2023 E8 Defensive Player of the Year. Noble became just the second player in league history to sweep Player and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. In addition, sophomore middle blocker Ana Gutman, an All-E8 first team pick and junior setter Reilly Morrow, an All-E8 second team selection, will look to make an even greater impact in 2024. Nellis led the Cardinals with 59 blocks and was fourth in the league in blocks per set. Hartpence was among the league leaders with 357 digs in her rookie season. In addition, four-time Empire 8 Coach of the Year Kelly Greapentrog brought in a strong group of newcomers, including Lydia Fraser and Marilyn Whitcavitch.
 
Hartwick
The Hawks finished second in the E8 regular season standings last year and advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals. Head Coach Janet Donovan became just the 17th coach in Division III women’s volleyball to surpass 700 wins in her career. Hartwick returns 12 players and six starters from last season, including 2022 Empire 8 Player of the Year and AVCA All-Region selection, setter Braelyn Hornick, who missed all of 2023 due to injury. Senior right side Staecia Silofau, a three-time All-E8 pick (second team, 2021; third team, 2022; first team 2023), along with fellow senior Shaelyn Thornton and junior Shelby Swartz all return to help the Hawks in 2024.
 
Keuka
The Wolves enjoyed a tremendous season in 2023, winning 20 matches while advancing to the Empire 8 Championship match. Keuka returns 10 players from last season, including the graduate student duo of Dayna Edholm and Casey Hunziker. Edholm earned All-Empire 8 first team accolades in 2023 after leading the league with 404 kills, 4.25 kills per set and 4.79 points per set, while Hunziker was an All-E8 second team pick after leading the league in assists. Edholm is within striking distance of becoming the third player in program history to surpass 1,000 career kills, while Hunziker could become the third player to surpass 3,000 career assists for the Green and Gold. 
 
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers, who most recently won the 2018 Empire 8 title, return 15 players from last season, including three-time All-Empire 8 first team selection, senior Tessa Grover, and junior outside hitter Leah Fusilli, who was an All-E8 third team selection in 2023. Grover, who plays both setter and right side was the 2021 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and garnered her second straight All-E8 first team selection in 2022. She finished in the top-10 among all E8 student-athletes last season in kills, hitting percentage, blocks, and points. Rylie Loomis is also back after earning All-E8 honors in 2022. Loomis, an outside hitter, slammed 161 kills in 2023. Senior setter/defensive specialist Ella Kules will also be counted on for key contributions, while first year middle blocker Alana Lucey will look to make an immediate impact.
 
Alfred
The Saxons made history in 2023, becoming the first team in league history to win three road matches in the Empire 8 Tournament en route to winning its first E8 Championship in program history. Alfred returns an experienced group of 15 veterans, including outside hitter Taylor Malone, an All-Empire 8 first team selection and AVCA All-Region honorable mention pick. Junior setter Delaney Sims is back after earning All-Empire 8 third team accolades last season, while graduate student Jamie Chun returns for her final season as a libero and sophomore middle blocker Cara Bratthauer will try and help Alfred repeat as league champions in 2024. Division II transfer Carleigh Santavy, along with talented first-year standouts Cat Krause and Abby Omelan will look to step right in and contribute.
 
Utica
Utica will look to make its third straight trip to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament in 2024. Utica returns 10 players and six starters from last season but will look to replace two-time All-Empire 8 first team selection Eleanor Cepiel. Sophomore Lauren Jones is set to take over as Utica’s starting setter in 2024. She slammed 133 kills, added 216 digs, 47 service aces, 39 blocks and 262 assists in 2023. Senior Peyton Migliaccio, sophomore Megan Wright and junior Cassandra Wagemann will also look to play a key role in 2024.
 
Houghton
Houghton will have a new look in 2024, as head coach Danielle Heffernan takes the reins on the bench. The Highlanders return eight players, including five starters from last season, including junior middle blocker Emma Cole, who garnered All-E8 third team accolades in 2022. In addition, senior middle blocker Katie Naprawa and classmate Ella Smith, a libero/outside hitter, will both look to play an increased role this season. Sophomore outside hitter Ainslie Reimer is poised to enjoy a breakout season.
 
Russell Sage
The Gators will look to get back to the postseason in 2024 and return 12 players from last season’s team, including outside hitter Macey Salvione, who earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades after slamming 243 kills, while adding 342 digs and 55 service aces. Senior Monalissa Carius is back and will be counted on to lead the way in the middle for the Gators along with junior Aniyah Kelly. Senior Katie Atchison will look to make an immediate impact after transferring in from Division II College of St. Rose.
 
Elmira
The Soaring Eagles will look to make it back to the postseason in 2024 after three E8 Tournament semifinal berths in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Elmira returns 10 players and six starters from last season, including seniors Makenna Clark, Asia Curkendall, Gabriella Rodriguez, and Morgan Richardson. Clark and Rodriguez were third and fourth, respectively in the E8 in service aces per set, while Curkendall was fifth in assists per set.
 
SUNY Brockport
The Golden Eagles of SUNY Brockport begin play in the Empire 8 this season after a successful run as a member of the SUNYAC. Brockport advanced to the SUNYAC Championship match in 2022 and was a SUNYAC Semifinalist in 2023. Junior Alenna Williamson earned All-SUNYAC third team honors last season after leading the Golden Eagles with a .286 hitting percentage, while sophomore setter Kaitlyn Jewett earned All-SUNYAC third team honors, while leading the league with 795 assists. In addition, head coach Jim Clar, who helped lead Hartwick to the E8 Championship match in 2022, has brought in talented class, led by junior Anna Casacpera, an All-Little East Conference second team selection.
 
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY Geneseo makes its Empire 8 debut in 2024. The Knights finished third in the SUNYAC standings last season and have qualified for the last seven SUNYAC Tournaments. Head coach Hunter Drews has 12 players returning, including senior middle blocker Madison Gamberg, a 2023 All-SUNYAC third team selection and sophomore libero Zooey Gagnier.
 
SUNY Poly
SUNY Poly begins its first season as a member of the Empire 8 for head coach Katie LaClaire in 2024. The Wildcats previously competed in the North Atlantic Conference. Brennah Durfee will be counted on the lead Poly after slamming 116 kills to go along with 211 digs last season. Ten talented newcomers will vie for playing time, including Daniella Alusisio, Kassity Cruz, and Kaylee DeGroat.
 
Final 2023 Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Standings
St. John Fisher (17-12, 8-0 E8)
Hartwick (14-10, 6-2 E8)
Keuka (20-7, 6-2 E8)
Nazareth (9-18, 5-3 E8)
Alfred (14-14, 5-3 E8) – League Champions
Utica (16-13, 3-5 E8)
Houghton (7-13, 2-6 E8)
Russell Sage (7-18, 1-7 E8)
Elmira (8-17, 0-8 E8)
 
^ SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Poly are making its Empire 8 debut in 2024. Brockport and Geneseo competed in the SUNYAC, while Poly competed in the North Atlantic Conference in 2023.
 
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
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 www.empire8.com and YouTube
 
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