Women's Volleyball | 11/5/2025 10:00:00 AM
St. John Fisher University, Hartwick College, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo, Houghton University, Russell Sage College, Utica University and Alfred University will battle for the 2025 Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Championship, which starts on Saturday, Nov. 8 and wraps up Saturday, Nov. 15, with all matches played at the higher seed.
All eight teams will be in action for opening round play on Saturday, Nov. 8, as No. 1 St. John Fisher will host No. 8 Alfred, No. 2 Hartwick hosts No. 7 Utica, No. 6 Russell Sage travels to take on No. 3 SUNY Brockport and No. 5 Houghton makes the quick trip to face No. 4 SUNY Geneseo. The winner of St. John Fisher vs. Alfred will take on the winner of SUNY Geneseo vs. Houghton on Wednesday, Nov. 12, while the winner of Hartwick vs. Utica will face the winner of SUNY Brockport vs. Russell Sage, also on Wednesday. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2025 Empire 8 Championship at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, Nov. 15 at a time to be determined.
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship, which begins Nov. 20-22.
2025 Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Championship Participants
No. 1 – St. John Fisher University (11-0 E8, 26-1 Overall)
No. 2 – Hartwick College (10-1 E8, 19-10 Overall)
No. 3 – SUNY Brockport (9-2 E8, 16-8 Overall)
No. 4 – SUNY Geneseo (7-4 E8, 14-11 Overall)
No. 5 – Houghton University (7-4 E8, 13-11 Overall)
No. 6 – Russell Sage College (6-5 E8, 11-13 Overall)
No. 7 – Utica University (5-6 E8, 13-16 Overall)
No. 8 – Alfred University (4-7 E8, 12-17 Overall)
St. John Fisher is looking to win its sixth Empire 8 Championship in the last seven seasons and repeat as league champs. The top-seeded Cardinals have won 26 matches in a row, finished 11-0 in E8 play and are ranked 19th in the most recent NCAA National Power Index. The Cardinals have tremendous depth, with three players tallying at least 290 points on the season. The Cardinals are eighth in Division III, hitting .259 as a team, 12th with 13.44 kills per set, 13th, averaging 12.47 assists per set and are holding opponents to just a 0.047 hitting percentage, which leads all of Division III. Junior Kaylene Noble, the 2023 Empire 8 Player and Rookie of the Year, leads the league in kills per set (4.10), is second to teammate Ana Gutman in hitting percentage (.328) and leads in points per set (4.40). First-year standout Kalyna Dannenberg is second in the league behind Noble with 3.47 kills per set and 4.05 points per set, while hitting .254. Setter Reilly Morrow leads the league, averaging 10.42 assists per set and 823 assists, while libero Kiera Heartpence has 301 digs and 3.46 digs per set, while surrendering just three reception errors in league play this season. Lydia Frasier, the 2024 E8 Rookie of the Year, leads the E8, averaging 0.84 service aces per set, while Gutman is second with 0.89 blocks per set and leads the E8 with a .342 hitting percentage.
Hartwick, the number two seed, enters the 2025 E8 Tournament with a 19-10 overall record this season and went 10-1 in league play. Head coach Janet Donovan won her 750th career contest on Nov. 2 and is 751-332 all-time with six Empire 8 Championships. Braelyn Hornick, the 2022 Empire 8 Player of the Year and 2024 All-E8 first team selection, is second in the league, averaging 9.6 assists per set. She also has 158 digs. Shelby Swartz has a team-high 294 kills and 245 digs. Isabella Gracias is among the league leaders with a .266 hitting percentage, while slamming 245 kills and adding 66 blocks. Lucy Walker is right behind with 214 kills and 63 blocks, while Mary Kinnane has 63 service aces and Malia Dake leads Hartwick with 285 digs.
SUNY Brockport, the No. 3 seed, enters the tournament with a 16-8 mark, having finished 9-2 in league play. The Golden Knights have five players with at least 120 kills. Alexis Sison leads the Golden Eagles with 186 kills to go along with 216 digs. Luba Butcher is right behind with 179 kills, while Madisen Jones has 171 kills, while hitting .271 Alenna Williamson has 132 kills and 35 blocks, while Ana Parella has a team-high 49 blocks to go along with 120 kills. Kaitlyn Jewett leads Brockport with 624 assists and 67 service aces, while Gianna Felipe has a team-high 302 digs.
SUNY Geneseo is the No. 4 seed in its second season as an E8 member, having finished 7-4 in league play. The Knights have five players with at least 100 kills on the season. Kate Barba has 225 kills, with 275.5 points, while hitting .209 on the season to go along with a team-high 45 service aces, while Zooey Gagnier is fourth in the E8, averaging 4.29 digs per set (403 total digs). Cory Elder leads the team with 38 blocks, while Carolyn Mack has a team-high 463 assists.
Houghton is in the Empire 8 Championship for the sixth time in program history and fifth time since 2019. The Highlanders earned the No. 5 seed and enter Saturday’s match with a 7-4 mark in league play. Sophomore Alexa Belanger leads the Highlanders with 288 kills to go along with 281 digs. Emma Cole is leads the league with 1.05 blocks per set, 92 total blocks and has 201 kills. Logan Baer leads the Highlanders with 585 assists and 42 service aces.
Russell Sage is in the Empire 8 Tournament for the second straight season, this year as the No. 6 seed. Aniyah Kelley leads the Gators with 205 kills and a .262 hitting percentage, while Emma Curry has a team-best 438 digs and 4.61 digs per set to go along with a team-best 65 service aces. Jules Morales leads Sage with 56 blocks, while Mia Wood and Cassidy Welher have combined for 738 assists.
Utica, the No. 7 seed is in the Empire 8 Tournament for the fifth time in program history and three time in the last four seasons. The Pioneers won four of their final five conference matches to get into the tournament. First-year Trinity Bailey leads the team with 314 kills and has added 211 digs. Megan Wright leads the league and is in the top-15 nationally with 571 digs and 5.71 digs per set this season. Lauren Jones leads Utica with 418 assists, 48 blocks, and 46 service aces.
Alfred, the 2023 Empire 8 Champions, is the No. 8 seed and has 12 wins on the year. The Saxons are in the E8 Tournament for the seventh time in program history and sixth time since 2017. Senior Taylor Malone leads the team with 342 kills and has added 232 digs. She is third in the league with both 3.35 kills and 3.78 points per set. Carleigh Santavy is right behind with 294 kills to go along with 261 digs. Delaney Sims leads Alfred with 820 assists, while Madalynn McGowan has a team-high 355 digs and Cara Bratthauar leads the Saxons with 57 blocks.
All four higher seeds won their regular season matchups against their quarterfinal opponents. St. John Fisher defeated Alfred in four sets to close out the regular season on Nov. 1, while Hartwick defeated Utica in three sets at Lambros Arena on Oct. 4. Brockport and Russell Sage will meet for the second time in eight days in the opening round, as the host Golden Eagles won in four sets on Oct. 31. Geneseo went on the road and defeated Houghton in four sets on Oct. 24.
This weekend's championship schedule is below. For the most up to date information on this year's championship, follow the Empire 8 Conference on X (@Empire8).
2025 Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Championship Schedule
Saturday, November 8 – First Round
No. 8 Alfred at No. 1 St. John Fisher – 1 p.m.
No. 7 Utica at No. 2 Hartwick – 1 p.m.
No. 6 Russell Sage at No. 3 SUNY Brockport – 1 p.m.
No. 5 Houghton at No. 4 SUNY Geneseo – 1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 12 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
Winner of St. John Fisher/Alfred vs. Winner of SUNY Geneseo/Houghton – 6 p.m.
Winner of Hartwick/Utica vs. Winner of Brockport/Russell Sage – 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 15 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal Game 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal Game 2 at Highest Remaining Seed – 1 p.m.
Admission
$10.00 - Adults
$2.00 - Students and seniors with ID
Free - Children under 12