On the heels of winning its second straight Liberty League title and returning to the NCAA tournament for the eighth consecutive year, the Ithaca College volleyball team was tabbed the preseason favorite in the 2024 Liberty League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll following a vote by the conference’s head coaches. The Bombers capped off last season by hosting their first NCAA regional since 2018, where the team advanced to the regional final and went 2-1 in the tournament.
Ithaca sits atop the preseason rankings with seven first-place votes and 63 points (coaches cannot vote for their teams). William Smith College, the league’s 2023 runner-up, was tabbed second with a pair of first-place votes and 55 points. Clarkson University followed in third with 55 points to round out the top three. Vassar College (38) was selected fourth, while Skidmore College (33) narrowly edged Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT, 31) and Union College (30) for fifth. The Tigers were selected to finish sixth, and the Garnet Chargers seventh. They were followed by St. Lawrence University (16) and Bard College (8).
Ithaca College
With the graduation of only two, Ithaca (27-5, 8-0 Liberty League) is poised to continue its success within the Liberty League and nationally as it enters a new chapter with Tara Stilwell at the helm as head coach. She takes over for Johan Dulfer, who led Ithaca for the last eight seasons. Stilwell is no stranger to South Hill; she played volleyball for the Bombers from 2015-2018 and was an assistant coach from 2019-2021. She will look to a veteran core (14 returning players) to lead the team this season, including three of the team’s four All-Liberty League selections from a year ago. Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu returns for her sophomore season. The reigning Liberty League Rookie of the Year recorded a team-high 336 kills and 3.81 per set in 32 matches. She produced a .216 hitting percentage, ten blocks, 31 service aces, and 124 digs. Among league leaders, Gonzalez-Abreu finished the year second in kills, kills per set, and total points (373.5) while ranking third in points per set (3.81). She will be joined by All-Liberty League first-team libero Julia Costa, who paced the squad in digs and digs per set at 424 and 3.89, respectively, last season. She was among the league’s top three in total digs (2nd) and digs per set (3rd). She also posted 92 assists and 28 service aces. Ella Graper (All-Liberty League second team) will be a significant contributor after leading the team in blocks in 2023. She played in 85 sets and totaled 73 blocks (31 solo, 42 assists) on the year, recording one or more in all but one match. Graper also had 19 service aces and more than 100 kills (149, 1.75 per set).
William Smith College
Entering just its third season as a varsity program, William Smith (15-10, 6-2 Liberty League) has emerged as one of the Liberty League’s top volleyball teams. The Herons reached the first round of the league tournament in their first year as the third seed in 2022, and they earned the second seed in the 2023 league tournament. Last year, they advanced to the championship final before falling to Ithaca. Heading into this season, William Smith welcomes back eight players from the 2023 roster; the team is headlined by the return of All-Liberty League honorees Malya Sayre (first team) and Jaylynn McCarthy (second team). Sayre, who started all 92 sets in 2023, paced the squad and conference with 379 kills (4.12 per set). She has totaled more than 500 kills in just 38 career matches. She finished last season atop the conference and 14th in Division III in points per set (4.92), tallying 452.5 points. In addition, Sayre was 22nd nationally in kills per set. McCarthy also played in all 92 sets last season, where she recorded 204 kills (2.22 per set) and was second on the team in points with 252.5 (2.74 per set). She also served 32 aces last season, good for third on the team, helping the Herons average a league-best 2.72 service aces per set as a team.
Clarkson University
Clarkson will look to climb the league standings after wrapping up the 2023 campaign as the third seed with an overall mark of 14-12 (6-2 Liberty League). The Golden Knights will also seek to extend their conference postseason streak to 13 consecutive seasons in 2024. The return of four starters from a year ago highlights this year's squad, including All-Liberty League second-team selection Abigail Spector. Spector played in all 26 matches (95 sets) last season while leading the team and league with 464 digs, 4.88 digs per set. She also recorded 84 assists (0.88 per set) and 22 service aces (0.23 per set). Classmate Allyson Treichel joins Spector after appearing in 80 sets throughout 24 matches (16 starts). Treichel posted 166 kills at a 2.08 per set clip and registered a .184 hitting percentage. Treichel also added 42 digs and 37 blocks. Anna Mayer returns as a senior in her second season with the Golden Knights after transferring during the 2022-23 academic year. She took part in 63 sets (22 matches, 9 starts) last season and hit .234, ranking her fourth on the team in hitting percentage. She was second on the team in assists with 241, averaging 3.83 per set to go along with 24 kills. Marin Hangliter took part in 26 matches (21 starts) in 2024; she was third on the team in kills (138) and second in aces (41). She was among the top ten in the Liberty League in service aces per set (0.50, 4th) and total service aces (8th).
Vassar College
Vassar snagged last year's fourth seed of the Liberty League tournament and advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2018. They increased their 2022 win total by 13 and closed the 2023 campaign at 17-10 overall (6-2 Liberty League). This season, the Brewers welcome a new head coach for the first time in 28 years with the retirement of Jonathan Penn. Grace Campbell takes over the program after five years at Smith College. Campbell will rely on the experience of the squad's 11 returning players heading into 2024. A pair of sophomores—Holland Kaplan and Maura McAusland, are back after earning All-Liberty League accolades as rookies. Kaplan, a first-team honoree, led the team in points (364.5), kills (305), and digs (201) in 95 sets (26 matches). She averaged 3.21 kills per set (4th) and 3.65 points per set (5th); she was among the league's top five in both categories. McAusland earned second-team recognition and played in all 27 matches last year. She was tops on the team in service aces with 45 and second in kills with 277. She was also fourth in blocks (30) as well as hitting percentage (.203) as well as fifth in digs (152). Other key returnees include Julia Hale (.249 hitting percentage, 130 kills, 67 blocks) and T Petro (37 service aces, 165 digs, 168.5 points).
Skidmore College
Skidmore (12-14, 4-4 Liberty League) earned a spot in the league tournament for the first time since 2017 as the fifth seed to end the 2023 campaign. The Thoroughbreds won three straight matches to close out the regular season and will look to build upon that momentum in 2024. The squad will be a mix of newcomers (4) and experienced players (12) this season, and All-Liberty League second-team honoree Jazlin Chen will lead Skidmore. Chen appeared in 20 matches (72 sets), pacing the team and the Liberty League in blocks per set (1.10). Her 79 total blocks ranked her fourth in the conference, and her .318 hitting percentage was good for first among the Thoroughbreds and third in the league. She totaled 112 kills (1.56 per set), 25 service aces, 36 digs, and nine assists. The Thoroughbreds also welcome Maya Stolarz and Catriona Hoelperl back. Stolarz appeared in all 26 matches and played in 90 sets. She tallied 124 kills while swinging at .160. She was third on the team in blocks with 47; she tied for a team-high 16 solo blocks and was second with 63 block assists. Stolarz also produced 42 digs. Hoelperl played in 55 sets (18 matches) during her rookie season and played in 55 sets. She was second on the team with assists, 200, and third in assists per set, 3.64). In addition, she tallied 97 digs and 27 kills.
Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT welcomes back most of its lineup from last year’s roster, with the departure of only four due to graduation. Six players with starting experience highlight the Tigers’ returning players as they look to improve upon an 11-22 overall record this season. Sydney Neff (All-Liberty League second team) returns after playing in all 33 matches and 117 sets last season. Neff dished out a team- and league-best 947 assists, and she was third in the conference for assists per set (8.09). She also produced a .271 hitting percentage as well as 285 digs, 91 kills, 56 blocks, and 47 service aces. Hailey Blixt is back after playing in all 33 matches and 117 sets in 2023. She led the team defensively with a team-high 383 digs and 3.27 per set, good for fourth and sixth among league leaders, respectively. Blixt was also second for the Tigers in assists with 113 (0.97 per set). Sam Cox will also be a key returning player for RIT; in 27 matches and 79 sets, she hit for .135 with 173 kills; she averaged 2.19 per set. She also tallied 188 points and 29 blocks.
Union College
Union will be eyeing a return to the conference postseason after narrowly missing the tournament last season. The Garnet Chargers look to improve from last season's 13-13 overall record. They kick off this year with all three All-Liberty League selections from a year ago back in Schenectady. Georgia Pool (25 matches, 88 sets) was recognized with second-team honors after boasting a team-best 408 digs, which was third among league leaders, and averaging 4.64 digs per set, good for second in the league. She recorded at least ten digs in 23-of-25 matches and paced the team in service aces with 38 (10th, Liberty League). Shannon McGrath and Maddie McCarron were both All-Liberty League honorable mention selections last year, and the duo participated in all 26 matches. In 90 sets, McGrath was the team's top threat at the net, thanks to a team-high 270 kills (3.00 kills per set) while also ranking second on the team in service aces (36) and digs (260). She was second in the conference in service aces (36) and digs (260). McCarron played in 93 sets and had a breakout rookie campaign as she paced the team with 88 blocks and was second in kills with 193 to go along with a team-best .284 hitting percentage. She was tops in the Liberty League in blocks and second in blocks per set (0.95). McCarron's hitting percentage was fifth within the conference; she was 11th in both points (278.5) as well as points per set (2.99).
St. Lawrence University
With the graduation of only three and the addition of one newcomer, St. Lawrence will be a seasoned team this season. The Saints welcome back two seniors, seven juniors, and five sophomores. They will be led by a pair of sophomores: outside hitter Araiza Acum Santos and setter Vanessa Latam. The duo had strong rookie campaigns and played in every match (25) and every set (94) last year for the Saints. Santos was second on the team in kills with 294 and averaged 2.52 per set. She was 11th among league leaders in both kills and kills per set. Latam recorded a team-high 647 assists (6.88 per set) and was second on the team in digs (254, 2.73) per set) as well as service aces (36). She also posted 19 blocks, good for fifth on the team. Latam finished the year third in the conference in assists and fourth in assists per set.
Bard College
Bard improved its win total by three in 2023, posting 11 wins and closing the year at 11-20 overall. The Raptors will look to continue to make strides this season, and they will be young, with seven newcomers on the roster. However, a core nucleus of players is back for 2024, and a pair of juniors headline the squad, Ella Small and Nyla Lawrence. Small played in every match and set for the Raptors for the second straight year (31 matches, 109 sets). She produced 244 digs (2.24 per match), ranked second on the team, and posted double-digit kills in eight matches. Lawrence played in 20 matches and 59 sets last season. Despite limited action, she tallied 75 kills, averaged 1.27 per set, and registered a .157 hitting percentage. Sophomore LaeAnna Riley also brings some experience to the court as an outside hitter. The sophomore was tops on the team in blocks (26) and blocks per set (0.24) during her rookie season last year (31 matches, 109 sets). She was also third on the team in kills (142, 1.30 per set).
The 2024 season begins on Friday, August 30, with all nine teams playing their season-opening matches. Three teams—Clarkson, Skidmore, and Union open the year on the West Coast in California (SKD, UNI) and Washington state (CLK). William Smith is the only league team home for opening weekend. The other five teams are in Massachusetts (BRD, ITH), New York (SLU), Pennsylvania (RIT), and New Jersey (VAS). Conference play kicks off on September 27 with a trio of matches: Ithaca at Clarkson, RIT at Skidmore, and William Smith at St. Lawrence.
2024 Liberty League VB Preseason Poll
Place. Team, Points (First Place Votes)
- Ithaca, 63 (7)
- William Smith, 55 (2)
- Clarkson, 50
- Vassar, 38
- Skidmore, 33
- RIT, 31
- Union, 30
- St. Lawrence, 16
- Bard, 8