The Wesleyan volleyball team is back with hopes set on another successful campaign mirroring last season wherein the Cardinals went 24-4 (9-1 NESCAC) and earned the top seed for the NESCAC Tournament for the first time in program history. The Cardinals open the 2023 slate on Tuesday, September 6 with a trip to face the Hartford Hawks at 6 pm.
One of the winningest programs in all of Division III over the past five seasons, Wesleyan’s 24 wins in 2022 represents the highest single-season total for the team since 2001 and is tied for the third-most in program history. By way of their 9-1 league record, Wesleyan hosted the NESCAC Tournament for the first time and advanced to the title match for the third time in the past five seasons. Wesleyan went on to host NCAA Tournament matches, serving as a regional host site for the first time in team history. The Cardinals have made the NCAA Tournament for five seasons running entering 2023.
Returning to the court for the Cardinals is a bevy of talent, led by the reigning NESCAC Player and Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-American in Sophia Lindus ’26. The Region 1 Player of the Year became the first rookie in team history to earn All-American honors and just the fourth Cardinal overall, while she is just the second player in NESCAC history to win both Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Lindus’ 344 kills in 28 matches are the most by a Cardinal in any season since 2008 while she led the NESCAC in kills, kills per set (3.82), points (409), and points per set (4.54), while hitting .266 for the season.
In addition to the star power of Lindus, Wesleyan returns the entire group of outside and middle hitters from the 2022 squad that won 24 matches. Bella Ahearn ’23 is back for a graduate year after enjoying a breakout senior season where she was named All-NESCAC First Team, ranking second on the team with 242 kills while hitting .294, both of which are new single-season career-highs.
Michelle Jorba ’26 was just 2.5 points shy of 200 in her first season of regular action, as the outside hitter posted 168 kills in 25 matches. Kate Long ’24 starred in the NESCAC Tournament, hitting close to .500 in postseason play with five kills and no errors in nine attempts in the title match against Tufts.
Another breakout star in 2022 came down the middle as Kathryn Morton ’24 recorded a team-leading 96 blocks (1.03 per set) to go along with 178 kills (third on the team), and a team-best .344 hitting percentage. Mariko Tanaka ’24 battled back from injury midway through the season and finished 2022 with 138 kills, .247 hitting percentage, and 55 blocks in 19 matches. Bianca Gonya ’25 was also heavily involved throughout the campaign with 72 kills, .241 hitting percentage, and 55 blocks (0.97 per set) in 19 matches.
Wesleyan graduated an All-NESCAC Second Team selection in setter Grace Dennis ’23 but welcome the return of Maya Lopansri ’25 at the position, who was an All-Region honoree in 2021, as well as Ali Landa ’26. Lopansri posted 10 double-digit assist matches in 2022 while Landi had four. As a first-year in 2021, Lopansri 576 for the season to lead the team.
The Cardinal back line was most affected by graduation as both Jenna Otaola ’22 and Grace Bell ’23, the team’s #1 and #2 leader in digs last season, played in their final match as a Cardinal. Wesleyan benefits from the return of Bianca Ortiz ’24 who has 376 digs over 50 career matches entering her senior year as well as Kiana Yuhl ’25 who played the role of serving specialist last season, but recorded 249 digs (2.83 per set) as a first-year in 2021.
Head Coach Ben Somera is back for his ninth season at the helm of Wesleyan volleyball in 2023. He welcomes a new assistant coach in Sarina Singer this season. Somera has accumulated 126 wins in just seven competitive seasons including four 20+ win campaigns and six straight winning records. His .712 win percentage since first arriving in Middletown in 2015 is the highest of any coach at Wesleyan.
I am excited about the talent we return at every positional group. Each year our gym becomes more skilled and athletic and the competition for playing time is as tight as it has ever been. I feel like this might be a year where our line-up is more fluid and want our players to view each week's practices as an opportunity to earn playing time. - Coach Somera