LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East volleyball teams are primed to take the court as their seasons begin the first week of September. All nine full member institutions will field a squad with each team competing in eight conference contests.
Last season, Gallaudet University was crowned the Conference Champions while Penn State Berks earned Regular Season Champion honors. The 2022 United East Volleyball Championship will begin on Friday November 4, with the Final taking place on November 5. The regular season champions will be named the host site for the entirety of the Championship.
Take a look at a preview of each squad HERE:
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY
| Head Coach |
Lynn Ray Boren |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
18th |
| 2021 Conference Record |
7-1 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
21-12 |
| Key Non-Conference Contests |
- Eastern (9/9)
- Mary Washington (10/18)
- Marymount (10/26) |
| Key Returner #1 |
Emily Wright (SO / Opposite) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Emily Wright |
- 2021 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention
- 2021 First Team All-Region
- 2021 United East Rookie of the Year
- 2021 First Team All-Conference
- Conference-leading 484 kills |
| Key Returner #2 |
Emma Giuntoli (JR / Setter) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Emma Giuntoli) |
- 2018 Conference Rookie of the Year
- Conference-leading 1132 total assists
- 9.98 assists/set
- 0.41 aces/set |
| Key Returner #3 |
Leila Sicoli (JR / Defensive Specialist) |
Key Returner Accolades #3
(Leila Sicoli) |
- 2.98 digs per set
- 0.37 aces per set |
| Key Losses |
- Karita Lewis
- Elina Rubinshteyn
- Mia Upchurch |
Coach's Outlook: "GUVB is entering a new season with a good group of young players and five returning players with their strong leadership backgrounds. Building a new team dynamic is the one that will lead GUVB to a good season."
LANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGE
| Head Coach |
Julie Brubaker |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
Third |
| 2021 Conference Record |
4-4 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
11-15 |
| Key Non-Conference Contests |
- Eastern University
- Franklin & Marshall University
- Cabrini University |
| Key Returner #1 |
Morgan Fenstermacher (JR / Middle) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Morgan Fenstermacher) |
- 2nd with # of kills
- 1.79 Kills per set
- 1st overall Hitting percentage on Team
- .207 Hitting percentage
- Led the team in blocks 46.0 |
| Key Returner #2 |
Leah Helman (SO / Libero) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Leah Helman) |
- 31 Aces for the 2021 season
- 225 overall digs
- 2.92 digs per set
- 2021 LBC Newcomer of the Year |
| Key Returner #3 |
Faith Helman (SR / Setter) |
Key Returner Accolades #3
(Faith Helman) |
- Total assists for season 565
- 7.15 assists per set
- 29 Service aces |
| Key Losses |
- Cassidy King
- Suzanna Rouse
- Kate Stoltzfus |
Coach's Outlook: "The Chargers are excited to take the court this year welcoming 6 new freshman and returning a great core of players from last year. LBC's non-conference schedule will help set the stage to earn a spot for conference play. We are looking forward to making an impact and competing well in our conference this season!"
SUNY MORRISVILLE
| Head Coach |
Fred Wallace |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
10th |
| 2021 Conference Record |
4-4 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
17-12 |
| Key Non-Conference Contests |
- Rowan (9/3)
- Skidmore (9/19)
- DeSales (9/30)
- RIT (9/31) |
| Key Returner #1 |
Bree Gates (JR / Outside) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Bree Gates) |
- 2021 Second Team All-Conference
- 26 starts
- 370 kills (5th in conference for kills/set)
- 239 digs
- 39 aces
- 26 total blocks |
| Key Returner #2 |
Emily Huppee (SO / Outside/Middle) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Emily Huppee) |
- 2021 Second Team All-Conference
- 26 starts
- 219 kills
- Conference-leading .318 hitting percentage
- Team-leading 58 block assists
- 46 aces |
| Key Returner #3 |
Katheryn Dolan (SO / Middle) |
Key Returner Accolades #3
(Kathryn Dolan) |
- 20 starts
- 60 kills
- 32 blocks (Five solo) |
| Key Losses |
- Anna Salamino
- Kirsten Florio |
Coach's Outlook: "We graduated a four year Starter and All-Conference player in Kirsten Florio and our defensive star Anna Salamino, their on the court skills and off the court leadership will be hard to replace. Already in place is a very talented Sophomore/Junior/Senior class including two All-Conference players in Bree Gates and Emily Huppe, whom I believe will be able to help us continue our excellent level of play. Our incoming Freshmen class is deep and talented, they should help us immediately with getting the title back to Morrisville (we won in 2017-2018-2019, and were runners up in 2021). With the strength of our opponents at the beginning of the season, we should have a very good idea of where our strengths lie, and where we need to improve to keep moving forward. We believe the key to our success will be how quickly we can get our new players up to speed with our returning players, and how they gel as a team/family. We will look to continue to play fast offensively and win the scramble points behind what I believe will be an excellent defense, coupled with some serious arms to put balls away. If we can accomplish those two things (quickly integrate the new players and win the broken points) 2022 will be a successful and fun! I feel this could be one of the most dynamic teams we’ve ever put out on the floor, and if all the pieces fall into place, we will have another spectacular season."
PENN COLLEGE
| Head Coach |
Carolyn McKeon |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
2nd |
| 2021 Conference Record |
0-8 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
1-16 |
| Key Non-Conference Contests |
- Keystone (9/20) |
| Key Returner #1 |
Cheyenne Stein (JR / Setter) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Cheyenne Stein) |
- Team Captain
- Team-leading 177 assists |
| Key Returner #2 |
Hailey DeBrody (SO / Middle) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Hailey DeBrody) |
- Team-leading 58 kills
- Team-leading 17 blocks |
| Key Returner #3 |
Coryn Oswald (JR / Outside) |
Key Returner Accolades #3
(Coryn Oswald) |
- Led team in kills in 2019 (126) |
| Key Losses |
- Emalie Marnati
- Emily Ferguson
- Sierra Yaggie |
Coach's Outlook: "This season we have a fuller roster with 12 athletes. We picked up a great freshman libero in Brooke Simmons. There are returning athletes who took a year off (Kathryn Burnett, Christine Limbert, and Kylee Butz). The team is hungry for more wins and is off to a fighting start with strong team bonding, communication, and commitment to hard work.
PENN STATE ABINGTON
| Head Coach |
Roy Watson |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
4th |
| 2021 Conference Record |
2-6 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
11-14 |
| Key Non-Conference Contests |
- Bryn Athyn (9/8)
- Delaware Valley (10/13) |
| Key Returner #1 |
Jenny McAneney (SR / Outside) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Jenny McAneney) |
- 3.5 kills per set
- .165 hitting percentage
- United East Offensive Player of the Week (1x) |
| Key Returner #2 |
Gaby Shreve (SR / Libero) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Gabby Shreve) |
- 3.4 digs per set
- United East Defensive Player of the Week (1x) |
| Key Returner #3 |
Haley Koch (SO / Setter) |
| Key Losses |
N/A |
Coach's Outlook: "Penn State Abington looks to rebuild by adding a core group of hard working, talented freshmen athletes to our roster of returners. Guided by several veteran athletes (Emma De May, Haley Koch, Sammy Burkert, Amanda Swan-Geiger) younger athletes will be asked to step in right away and battle for positions. Success will take a total team effort. We look to work hard in practice and outwork our opponents during matches. We're excited to kick off the regular season with our first match at Cairn on September 1st."
PENN STATE BERKS
| Head Coach |
Jessie Franko |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
8th |
| 2021 Conference Record |
8-0 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
17-15 |
| Key Non-Conference Contests |
- Neumann (9/15)
- Marywood (9/17) |
| Key Returner #1 |
Julia Rathsam (SR / Setter) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Julia Rathsam) |
- 2021 First Team All-Conference
- United East Scholar Athlete
- 110 sets played
- 997 assists
- 67 kills
- 44 aces |
| Key Returner #2 |
Cassie Shoupe (SR / Outside) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Cassie Shoupe) |
- 2021 Second Team All-Conference
- United East Player of the Week (1x)
- United East Scholar Athlete
- 119 sets played
- 333 Kills
- 54 aces
- 399 digs |
| Key Returner #3 |
Kayla Zelonka (JR / Right) |
Key Returner Accolades #3
(Kayla Zelonka) |
- 2021 Second Team All-Conference
- 119 sets played
- 256 kills
- 52.0 total blocks |
| Key Losses |
- Marie Durkota |
Coach's Outlook: "With the loss of 2021 United East Defensive Player of the Year, Marie Durkota, we'll be looking for one of the newcomers to step in and fill that gap. We are returning 6 starters, 5 of whom are seniors and are looking to once again make a run for the United East Championship."
PENN STATE HARRISBURG
| Head Coach |
Angela Burkett |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
7th |
| 2021 Conference Record |
6-2 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
19-10 |
| Key Non-Conference Contests |
- Misericordia (9/1)
- Lebanon Valley (9/8)
- York (9/10)
- Elizabethtown (10/18) |
| Key Returner #1 |
Alyssa Snyder (SR / Setter) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Alyssa Snyder) |
- Team-high 669 assists (9.04 A/S)
- Notched 1,000 career assist in 2021
- Career-high 45 assists against Dickinson |
| Key Returner #2 |
Anna Ruff (SR / Middle) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Anna Ruff) |
- Team Captain
- Team-high 63 total blocks
- 187 kills
- Season-high 14 kills against Mount Aloysius |
| Key Returner #3 |
Megan Morris (SR / Defensive Specialist) |
Key Returner Accolades #3
(Megan Morris) |
- Team Captain
- 402 digs (program single season record)
- Averaged 3.76 digs per set
- 44 aces |
| Key Losses |
- Melanie Schaeffer
- Cheyanna Buckingham
- Corrinne Cook
- Megan Hamm |
Coach's Outlook: "We look forward to returning back to the court together and welcoming our new incoming athletes. The team worked hard over the spring season and summer and we will continue striving to improve together.”
ST. MARY'S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND
| Head Coach |
Alexis Calloway |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
1st |
| 2021 Conference Record |
4-4 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
8-14 |
| Key Returner #1 |
Nicole Gibson (JR / Setter) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Nicole Gibson) |
- 59 sets played
- 266 assists
- 114 digs |
| Key Returner #2 |
Meghan Stevens (JR / Outside) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Anna Ruff) |
- 69 sets played
- 91 kills
- 187 digs |
| Key Losses |
N/A |
Coach's Outlook: "I am excited to be working with this group of girls this season. We have a group of girls willing to work hard and compete day in and day out. While it is still early in the season I have already seen some girls step up and am anxious to see how far we come as a team this season."
WELLS COLLEGE
| Head Coach |
Mark Lucas |
| Number of Seasons at Current Institutions |
6th |
| 2021 Conference Record |
1-6 |
| 2021 Overall Record |
7-20 |
| Key Non-Conference Contests |
- SUNY Oneonta (9/3)
- SUNY Fredonia (9/24)
- SUNY Oswego (10/5) |
| Key Returner #1 |
Roosa Armstead-Lehti (SO / Libero) |
Key Returner Accolades #1
(Roosa Armstead-Lehti) |
- Conference leading 4.63 digs/set (Wells single season record)
- Conference best 35 digs in one contest
- Defensive Player of the Week (1x) |
| Key Returner #2 |
Makenzie Drown (SR / Middle) |
Key Returner Accolades #2
(Makenzie Drown) |
- Finished season hitting .237 |
| Key Losses |
- Tori Sanders |
Coach's Outlook: "We're bringing in some quite good players and our roster is at full strength to start the season. Optimistic about a much improved outcome this year."
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The United East has nine NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Wells College. The United East also includes three associate members in the sport of men’s golf including Clarks Summit University, Rosemont College, Rutgers University – Camden and Wilson College. Clarks Summit University is also an associate member in the sport of men’s tennis. The United East has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse. For more information, please visit: gounitedeast.com