ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's volleyball team is eager to open the 2025 season at the University of Mount Union on Friday, August 29 at 4:00 PM.
 
Head Coach Mike Honeycutt enters his fourth season as head coach and his ninth on staff.

"We are an upperclassman-led roster this year," he said. "I'm excited to see us for the first time in a while to be led by a strong group of upperclassmen and for them to teach our young group what it takes to be champions and to win an Empire 8 Championship."
 
Last season, the Saxons posted a 15-9 overall record with 7-4 in conference play. It was the best record set by the program in 25 years. Unfortunately, Alfred University lost in the first round of the E8 Championship Tournament at Houghton University.
 
The Saxons return their three All-Empire 8 honorees in Carleigh Santavy (Commerce, MI/Walled Lake Northern), Delaney Sims (Bogart, GA/George Walton Academy), and Taylor Malone (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads).
 
Santavy, an All-Empire 8 First Team recipient, was the second leading scorer for Alfred University. She tallied 233 kills and 2.68 per game, which were both 11th in program history in a single season. In addition, Santavy placed sixth in program history with a .224 attack percentage.
 
Sims was selected to the All-E8 Second Team last season after leading Alfred University with 7.43 assists per set and 453 total assists. She currently leads the program in career assists per set (7.77) and is fourth in total assists (1,367).
 
Sims was chosen as team captain along with Jade Wolfer (Nunda, NY/Keshequa). Wolfer is a four-year defensive specialist who appeared in 68 sets a season ago. Both players possess very good interpersonal skills and are well respected within the team.
 
"Their goals are the same, but maybe their leadership styles are different enough that it helps bridge some gaps either way," Honeycutt said.
 
Malone was the Saxons' leading scorer with 269 kills and 295 points, which earned her a spot on the All-E8 Third Team. She is ranked second in career kills per set (3.51) and third in total career kills (632) in program history.
 
Madalynn McGowan (Corona, CA/Norco) is expected to step into the role of libero this season. She has appeared in 122 sets and registered 210 digs in her career.
 
Coach Honeycutt also adds four strong first-years to the 17-player roster. The Saxons welcome Julia Abbott (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton), Norah Galvin (Lake Placid, NY/Lake Placid), Meeghan Peterson (Amherst, NY/Williamsville South), and Acadia Winslow (Geneseo, NY/Geneseo Central) for the 2025 season.
 
"We return most of our starting lineup, and I think that's going to be a big key," Coach Honeycutt said. "Adding in a couple of strong first-years will hopefully put us over the top. They recognize how things are done within AUVB, and they're putting themselves in a position to make an impact right away."
 
The Alfred University women's volleyball team plays a tough schedule, opening the season at the University of Mount Union Invitational on August 29-30. The Saxons will face the University of Mount Union at 4:00 PM and Denison University at 6:00 PM on Friday. Alfred University will end the invitational on Saturday against Marietta College at 10:00 AM and DePauw University at 12:00 PM. The Saxons host their first home match against Penn State Behrend on Thursday, September 25, at 7:00 PM. The Empire 8 slate is set to start at Houghton University on Wednesday, October 1, at 7:00 PM. The E8 Championship Tournament will run from November 8-15.  
 
Coach Honeycutt hopes this schedule will allow Alfred University to be in the conversation as an E8 Championship contender.
 
"We would love to win the conference championship," he said. "But we know that's going to be a tough road in the E8. We will take it one set at a time, one match at a time."