ALFRED, NY - Following a season of growth, the Alfred University women's volleyball team is prepared to build off their success coming into the fall season. The Saxons will feature a variety of both returning student-athletes and incoming talents.
Alfred University will be led by Head Coach
Mike Honeycutt, who enters his second season as the head coach of the program.
"Our program did a great job at overcoming adversity and rolling with the punches throughout the course of last season," Honeycutt said. "Not everything went according to plan, but we did a great job at staying together."
The Saxons finished last season with a 5-13 record, clinching conference wins over Elmira College and Russell Sage College.
The back row for Alfred University will feature
Anjoeline Armstrong (Simi Valley, CA/Bishop Alemany) and
Darian Ortiz (Santa Fe, NM/St. Michael's). Armstrong finished last season with a team-high 3.89 digs per set, which ranks 5th in program history. Ortiz returns to the Saxons for her graduate season, as she has totaled 1,069 career digs and is a three-time All-Empire 8 honoree.
"We're really excited to have both Anj and Darian both among the returners on our roster for this fall," Honeycutt said. "Darian will have the opportunity to be back in her position as libero and will be the floor captain which makes our defense that much better."
The middle blocker position will include
Casey Grange (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) and Fiona McNeil (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt). Grange was previously named as the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and a member of the All-Empire 8 Second Team. McNeil competed in 65 sets for the second consecutive season last fall, totaling 66 kills and 6 assists.
"Casey was impressive for us last season, given the circumstances of a short-handed roster," Honeycutt said. "She is training with full-time setters and it will make her a stronger player. Fiona has done so many things for our program both on and off the court. She is currently serving as the SAAC President and has developed into a terrific leader."
Jamie Chun (Hilo, HI/Hilo) is among the returners at the outside hitter position for the Saxons this fall. Chun finished last season with 2.62 kills per set, which ranks 9th in program history. The Saxons will also welcome
Taylor Malone (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads), who transferred from Division II Kutztown University.
"Jamie has been a rock throughout her time with us at Alfred University," Honeycutt said. "She has been so consistent and reliable both offensively and defensively. The excitement she brings to our program has been contagious for the rest of the team. Taylor has been able to step in during the spring semester and solidify herself as a strong outside hitter addition. Adding her to our roster will allow us to be dynamic."
Alfred University will begin their season at the PCC Tournament in California, which is scheduled to run from September 1 through September 2. The Saxons will host their first game later in the month with a conference matchup against St. John Fisher University. The Empire 8 Tournament is slated to go from November 7 through November 11.
"Our first goal is to return to the Empire 8 Tournament," Honeycutt said. "If we can continue to work on one match at a time and finish with a winning record, that is a tremendous step forward for our program. Accomplishing that while facing tough competition is a great goal for us. It helps with recruiting and showing opposing teams that we are heading in the right direction and that Alfred University will continue to be a force in the conference."
