Lyndonville, VT - The Vermont State University Lyndon volleyball team will open the 2026 season this weekend when they compete in the annual Vermont Volleyball Classic. Vermont State University Castleton will serve as this year's host of the rotating event. The Hornets will face Norwich University and Vermont State University Johnson at 1:00 and 3:00 respectively on Saturday, before taking on the host Spartans at 11:00 am on Sunday.
Lyndon enters the season with optimism as the program looks to continue its build to competitiveness. The team returns four players from the 2025 roster, led by junior libero Olivia Cordova (Craig, CO) and senior outside hitter Nei'Shae Clegg (Coolidge, AZ). Cordova started all 25 matches last season, recording 152 digs, 93 assists, 14 kills, and 20 aces. Clegg, one of Lyndon's most athletic players, notched 51 kills, seven assists, and ten aces in 15 matches.
A pair of seniors, middle blocker Riley McNamara (Manchester, NH) and Alyssa Gerrish (Georgia, VT), also return. McNamara only played in three matches last year before her season was cut short due to injury. Gerrish enters her third season with the program, having played in 30 career matches.
Sophomore Kacie Nelson (St. Johnsbury, VT) and junior Haylee Walker (Sierra Blanca, TX) join the program for their first seasons. Nelson, a 5'10" middle blocker, was an all-league player at nearby St. Johnsbury Academy. Walker also excelled in high school, as she was named her team's most valuable player three times.
Three talented freshmen, setters Taniya Davis (Colchester, VT) and Kyra Fessenden (Waterford, VT) and outside hitter Emily Lopez (Chicago, IL) round out the roster and are expected to make an immediate impact.
Steven Friscia enters his first season as Lyndon head coach. He believes that this year's Hornet team will continue to move the program forward. "I am very excited about our season and the group of athletes we have. This will be a good year for growth and to continue to grow the program in a positive direction along with being a competitive program!"
Friscia, a 2023 Lyndon graduate, will be assisted by three other Hornet alums. Emily Anderson '25 returns for her second season on the sidelines, while Sam Tieriault '19 and Chuck Gratton '25 join the staff for the first time.
North Atlantic Conference coaches picked Lyndon to finish seventh in the conference this season. Two-time defending champion Maine Maritime Academey was the unanimous pick to capture another championship. The Hornets will open NAC play on Saturday, October 3rd, when they host Lesley University for a doubleheader.
