Women's Volleyball | 11/3/2026 11:00:00 AM
St. John Fisher University, SUNY Geneseo, Hartwick College, Houghton University, Alfred University, Russell Sage College, Nazareth University and SUNY Brockport will battle for the 2026 Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Championship, which starts on Saturday, Nov. 7 and wraps up Saturday, Nov. 14, with all matches played at the higher seed.
All eight teams will be in action for opening round play on Saturday, Nov. 6, as No. 1 St. John Fisher will host No. 8 SUNY Brockport, No. 2 SUNY Geneseo hosts No. 7 Nazareth, No. 6 Russell Sage travels to take on No. 3 Hartwick and No. 5 Alfred makes the quick trip to face No. 4 Houghton. The winner of St. John Fisher vs. SUNY Brockport will take on the winner of Houghton vs. Alfred on Wednesday, Nov. 11, while the winner of SUNY Geneseo vs. Nazareth will face the winner of Hartwick vs. Russell Sage, also on Wednesday. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2026 Empire 8 Championship at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, Nov. 14 at a time to be determined.
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship, which begins Nov. 19-21.
2026 Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Championship Participants
No. 1 – St. John Fisher University (11-0 E8, 21-6 Overall)
No. 2 – SUNY Geneseo (8-3 E8, 14-9 Overall)
No. 3 – Hartwick College (8-3 E8, 13-11 Overall)
No. 4 – Houghton University (7-4 E8, 12-15 Overall)
No. 5 – Alfred University (7-4 E8, 13-16 Overall)
No. 6 – Russell Sage College (5-6 E8, 14-15 Overall)
No. 7 – Nazareth University (5-6 E8, 8-15 Overall)
No. 8 – SUNY Brockport (5-6 E8, 11-1 Overall)
St. John Fisher is looking to win its seventh Empire 8 Championship in the last eight seasons and earn its third straight title. The top-seeded Cardinals finished 11-0 in league play for the second straight season. The Cardinals enter the postseason on a 14-match winning streak and lead the league in hitting percentage (.233), kills (12.69 per set), assists (11.57 per set) and points (16.64 per set). Kaylene Noble, the 2023 Empire 8 Player and Rookie of the Year, has 317 kills (3.30 per set) and 1,410 for her illustrious career, while Lydia Fraser has 272 kills and a conference-high 74 service aces. Kalyna Dannenberg adds 215 kills, giving Fisher three dangerous attackers. Noble is a two-time AVCA Honorable Mention All-American. Setter Zofia Keogh leads the E8 with 865 assists (9.51 per set), while Ana Gutman is among the conference’s most efficient hitters at .349, tied for second in the league. The Cardinals have also held opponents to a .134 hitting percentage.
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo brings one of the conference’s most efficient attacks into the championship, ranking second in the league with a .189 team hitting percentage. Kathryn Barba leads the Knights with 247 kills (3.13 per set) and 281 points, while Sophie Hunter has added 167 kills. Cory Elder tops the Empire 8 individual hitting percentage chart at .377, with 136 kills, and Dyllan Thomas is hitting .304 with 102 kills. Zooey Gagnier anchors the back row with 281 digs (3.39 per set) and leads Geneseo with 43 service aces. The Knights have recorded 905 kills and 836 assists in 83 sets this season.
Third-seeded Hartwick enters the championship having won its final two conference matches. Lucille Walker leads the Hawks with 256 kills (3.16 per set) and 326 points, while hitting an impressive .349. Walker also contributes 64 total blocks (0.79 per set), placing her among the E8 leaders. Isabella Gracias has 185 kills and 52 blocks, giving Hartwick another strong presence at the net. Thylia Keoviengsamay has handed out 622 assists (8.18 per set), while Malia Dake leads the defense with 293 digs and has added 38 aces.
No. 4 Houghton features one of the league’s most productive attackers in Alexa Belanger, who has 328 kills (3.45 per set), 375 points and 254 digs. Morgan Brace directs the Highlander offense with 800 assists (8.16 per set), while Petra Thomas has supplied 172 kills with a .296 hitting percentage and 62 blocks. Paige Brennan has 284 digs, and Praylan Perkins has contributed 240 digs and a team-leading 48 aces. Houghton is second in the Empire 8 with 11.10 kills per set and has recorded 1,088 kills overall.
Fifth-seeded Alfred, the 2023 Empire 8 champion, has built a major strength at the service line. The Saxons lead the conference with 295 aces and 3.01 aces per set. Carleigh Santavy has 257 kills, 326 points and 46 aces, while Abigail Omelan has 200 kills and a team-best 54 aces. Meeghan Peterson adds 45 aces. Gillian Dickerson has 320 assists in 50 sets (6.40 per set), while Madalynn McGowan has 306 digs. Cara Bratthauar contributes 62 blocks, including 11 solo stops.
No. 6 Russell Sage has won its last two matches and brings a balanced attack and strong serving game into the postseason. Paige Kemmer leads the Gators with 282 kills (2.94 per set) and 302 points, while Mia Merino has 238 kills and Emily Trama has 216. Emma Curry is one of the league’s top defensive and serving performers, leading Sage with 488 digs (4.93 per set) and the Empire 8 with 88 service aces (0.89 per set). Sage ranks second in the league with 265 team aces and 2.68 aces per set and averages 16.07 digs per set. The Gators open tournament play at Hartwick.
Seventh-seeded Nazareth enters the Empire 8 Championship on a five-match winning streak. Leah Fusilli leads the conference with 3.57 kills per set, totaling 314 kills and 359 points (4.08 per set). Alana Lucey adds 183 kills with a .217 hitting percentage and leads the league with 86 total blocks (0.97 per set), while Macy Quibell has 49 blocks. Gretchen Klossner has a team-high 276 digs and Hailey Trank has 37 service aces. The Golden Flyers lead the Empire 8 in team blocks per set (1.81).
No. 8 SUNY Brockport enters the postseason with two straight victories and a strong defensive profile. The Golden Eagles lead the Empire 8 in opponent hitting percentage, limiting teams to .117, and rank second in team blocks (1.79 per set). Kaylee Dickerson-Holly leads the attack with 187 kills (2.53 per set), while Luba Butcher has 155 kills. Maddy Howell is second in the league with 0.95 blocks per set (59 total), and Ana Parella adds 48 blocks. Setter Kaitlyn Jewett has 418 assists and 65 service aces (0.83 per set), while Elsie Logan leads the defense with 317 digs (4.59 per set).
All four higher seeds won their regular season matchups against their quarterfinal opponents. St. John Fisher needed five sets to defeat SUNY Brockport on the road on Oct. 17, while Geneseo defeated Nazareth in four sets at Schraeder Gymnasium, also on Oct. 17. Hartwick and Russell Sage opened up league play on Oct. 30 at Lambros Gymnasium with Hartwick winning in three sets. Houghton went on the road and defeated Alfred in three sets on Oct. 13.
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).
2026 Empire 8 Women’s Volleyball Championship Schedule
Saturday, November 7 – First Round
No. 8 SUNY Brockport at No. 1 St. John Fisher – 12 p.m.
No. 7 Nazareth at No. 2 SUNY Geneseo – 12 p.m.
No. 6 Russell Sage at No. 3 Hartwick – 5 p.m.
No. 5 Alfred at No. 4 Houghton – 1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 11 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
Winner of St. John Fisher/SUNY Brockport vs. Winner of Houghton/Alfred – 6 p.m.
Winner of SUNY Geneseo/Nazareth vs. Winner of Hartwick/Russell Sage – 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 14 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal Game 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal Game 2 at Highest Remaining Seed – TBA
Admission
$10.00 – Adults
$5.00 – Seniors
$2.00 – Students (with ID from competing institution)
Free – Children under 12