Lyndonville, VT - The Vermont State University Lyndon volleyball team is looking to take more positive steps on the road to competitiveness this season. A year ago the Hornets picked up their first wins since 2017, and look to build on that and become a factor in the North Atlantic Conference.
Senior setter and defensive specialist Charlotte Morris (Middletown, DE) returns to again anchor the Hornets. Morris has played in 61 matches in her Lyndon career, and recorded 355 digs and 300 assists. Last season, she paced the Hornets with 57 assists.
Junior middle hitter Kiara Mack (Winooski, VT) also returns, and should be Lyndon's top threat at the net. She paced the Hornets with 48 kills and 11 blocks in 2023, and has total 78 kills in two seasons
Junior defensive specialist Emily Anderson (Levittown, NY) and sophomore setter Kazandra Gonzalez (Norwalk, CA) also return. Anderson recorded a team best 123 digs a year ago, while Gonzalez notched 20 assists.
Junior Mary Grace Weissauer (Milford, CT) returns to the Hornets after a year off. Weissauer notched 33 kills and 20 assists in her freshman campaign of 2021, and has 142 digs over two seasons.
Sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Gerrish (Alburgh, VT) heads the newcomers, and will be expected to provide an additional offensive threat. Sophomore middle hitter Hannah Badertscher (Irasburg, VT) and freshman outside hitter Malika Wheeler (Brooklyn, NY) round out the roster.
Paige Daley, a 2022 Lyndon alum and a multi-sport Hornet athlete during her undergraduate tenure, takes over as Lyndon head coach this season. Daley will be Lyndon's sixth head coach in its last six seasons, and hopes to bring some stability and growth to the program. She has an optimistic outlook for the upcoming season. "We are looking to improve off of our previous 2023 season. I have high hopes of positive changes being made to lead the program in the right direction and lead us to some more wins."
Lyndon will open its campaign on Saturday, when they travel to Vermont State University Johnson for the annual Vermont Volleyball Classic. The Hornets will open the tournament on Saturday morning at 11:00 am, when they face Vermont State University Castleton. Then at 3:00 pm Lyndon will square off against Norwich University. Lyndon will wrap up the weekend with a 3:00 pm match against host VTSU Johnson on Sunday afternoon.
