2025 Empire 8 Women's Volleyball Players to Watch

2025 Empire 8 Women's Volleyball Players to Watch
(Sorted Alphabetically by Team)
 

ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Mike Honeycutt
Carleigh Santavy, Jr., OPP, Commerce, MI/Walled Lake Northern - Santavy, a 2024 All-Empire 8 first team selection, led the Saxons in hitting percentage at .224. She averaged 2.68 kills per set and was top-10 in the league in hitting percentage.

Delaney Sims, Sr., S, Bogart, GA/George Walton Academy - Simms earned All-Empire second team honors in 2024 and was a third team selection in 2023. She averaged 7.43 assists per set and landed second on the Saxons in service aces with 28.

SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Jim Clar 
Elsie Logan, Jr., L, Tonawanda Seneca Nation Territory, NY/Akron - Logan was named the 2024 E8 Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year as well as a first team All-Conference nod. She was also an honorable mention All-Region selection.

Alenna Williamson, Sr., MB, Roanoke, VA/Rockbridge - Williamson, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, earned All-Empire 8 second team honors last season after averaging 2.86 kills per set, while hitting .209 in 2024.

ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Savannah Terry
Erin Bracken, So., S, Elma, NY/Iroquois - Bracken recorded 202 assists and added 111 digs during the 2024 season for the Soaring Eagles.

Morgan Sica, So., M/OH, New Hartford, NY/Saqouit Valley - Sica recorded 89 kills and 39 digs during her 2024 campaign, finishing fourth on the team with 109 points.

SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Hunter Drews
Kate Barba, So., OH, Huntington, NY/Huntington - Barba landed a spot on the 2024 E8 All-Conference third team. She finished her season leading the Knights averaging 2.42 kills per set.

Zooey Gagnier, Jr., L, Penfield, NY/Penfield - Gagnier led the way for the Knights with 4.08 digs per set, which was third in the league. Gagnier was an All-Empire 8 third team selection.

HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Janet Donovan
Braelyn Hornick, Sr., S, Candor, NY/Candor - Hornick, the 2022 E8 Player of the Year, is a two-time first team All-Conference selection, two-time All-Region selection and 2024 Honorable Mention All-American. She averaged 10.21 assists per set as a junior last season, totaling 858 assists, leading the E8 in both categories.

Shelby Swartz, Sr., RS, Candor, NY/Candor - Swartz was an All-Empire 8 second team selection in 2024. She finished her season with 2.86 kills per set totaling 240 kills. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Danielle Heffernan
Alexa Belanger, So., OH, Ballston Spa, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - Belanger, who earned NCAA All-American honors in the high jump as a track and field standout, had a stellar first season on the volleyball court. She averaged 1.80 kills per set with 164 total kills.

Emma Cole, Sr., MB, Houghton, NY, Fillmore - Cole, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a 2023 All-Empire 8 third team member and 2024 second team selection. Cole slammed 187 kills on the season to go along with a .227 hitting percentage. Cole also excelson the basketball court for the Highlanders.

KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Rachel Fiser
Gabby Rodriguez, Keuka, So., L, Floresville, TX/Floresville - Rodriguez was the leader on defense for the Wolves in 2024, averging 4.01 digs per set, fifth in the conference. She added 57 assists on the season.

Nina Scott, Keuka, Jr., OH, Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima - Scott was second on the Wolves with 2.54 kills per set last season. She totaled 201 kills on the season. 

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Tara Jehlen
Leah Fusilli, Sr., OH, Penfield, NY/Penfield - Fusilli was a 2024 All-Empire first team and a 2023 All-E8 third team selection. She averaged 2.23 kills per set and totaled 235 kills in 2024.

Jenna Mattison, Sr., L, Marcellus, NY/Marcellus - Mattison earned all-E8 third team accolades last season and was 12th in the league in digs per set with 2.92. She totaled 309 digs and 89 assists on the season.

SUNY POLY - Head Coach Daniel Short
Daniella Aluisio, So., RS/OH, Wallkill, NY/Wallkill - Aluisio led the Wildcats on offense in 2024, averaging 1.95 kills per set, totaling 158 kills. 

Kassity Cruz, So., OH, Rome, NY/ Rome Free Academy - Cruz, another offensive leader for the Wilcats in 2024, averaged 1.87 kills per set and totaled 140 kills on the season. 

RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Rosilyn Cummings
Ashleigh Gerkman, Sr., OPP, Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane - Gerkman tallied 131 kills, 27 aces and 130 digs in 2024. Her leadership helped the Gators earn their first appearance in the Empire 8 Tournament.

Aniyah Kelley, Sr. OPP, New Castle, DE/William Penn - Kelley registered 164 kills and finished with a .223 hitting percentage in 2024. She had four matches with double-digit kill totals and is expected to be an offensive leader in 2025.

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Kelly Greapentrog
Ana Gutman, Jr., MB, Rochester, NY/Penfield - Gutman is a two-time E8 first team All-Conference member, a 2024 first team All-Region member and a 2024 honorable mention All-American. In addition, she led the E8 with a .390 hiting percentage. She was also the 2024 E8 Tournament MVP.

Kiera Hartpence, Sr., L, Scotia, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - Hartpence, the 2023 Empire 8 Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year, earned 2024 third team All-Conference honors. In addition, she was fourth in the conference in digs per set with 4.05.

UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Josh Higby
Trinity Bailey, Jr., OH, West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham - Bailey totaled 151 kills on the season in 2024, averaging 1.76 kills per set. In addition, she led the Pioneers with 30 blocks.

Megan Wright, Jr., L/DS, Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community - Wright averaged 5.06 digs per set last season to lead the Empire 8.

2024 Empire 8 Women's Volleyball Final Standings
Nazareth (17-14, 10-1 E8)
St. John Fisher (21-9, 9-2 E8) - League Champions
Hartwick (20-3, 9-2 E8)
Houghton (11-15, 7-4)
Alfred (15-9, 7-4 E8)
Brockport (17-10, 7-4 E8)
Geneseo (9-18, 6-5 E8)
Russell Sage (14-14, 4-7 E8)
Utica (9-15, 3-8 E8)
Keuka (7-18, 3-8 E8)
Elmira (3-22, 1-10 E8)
Poly (2-22, 0-11 E8)

2024 Empire 8 Women's Volleyball Tournament Recap

Quarterfinals
No. 1 Nazareth defeated No. 8 Russell Sage, 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-15) – BOX SCORE
No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No 7 SUNY Geneseo, 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-9, 25-16) – BOX SCORE
No. 6 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 3 Hartwick, 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23) – BOX SCORE
No. 4 Houghton defeated No. 5 Alfred, 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-19) – BOX SCORE

Semifinals
No. 2 St. John FIsher defeated No. 6 SUNY Brockport, 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 21-25, 25-18) – BOX SCORE
No. 1 Nazareth defeated No. 4 Houghton, 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-17) – BOX SCORE
 
Championship
No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No. 1 Nazareth, 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-20) – BOX SCORE

2024 Empire 8 Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Ana Gutman, MH, St. John Fisher