WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's volleyball team is set for the 2023 season which will bring change with a new conference and playing home matches in the newly renovated Marts Center.

Joseph Czopek begins his 12th season as the Colonels women's volleyball head coach. He is the program's all-time wins leader with 127 entering the new season. The Colonels finished 8-20 overall and 2-6 in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) but will move to the Landmark Conference for league play this year.

"Our practices are very focused and dedicated because we are one of the new Landmark teams and we are working hard in preparation to fill the new level of competition we feel we will have to face," Czopek said.

The Colonels lineup will feature vast collegiate playing experience this season as the team returns the majority of the starters from a year ago and 11 of the 16 members of the roster are upperclassmen.

All-MAC Freedom Second Team outside hitter Nicole Fitzpatrick (New Hampton, NY/Minisink Valley) returns for her senior season. She led the team with 279 kills and 331 points and was second with 225 digs last season. Fitzpatrick was named the MAC Freedom Offensive Player of the Week twice during the 2022 season.

Also returning as outside hitters for the Blue and Gold are senior Lylah Oswald (Wyalusing, PA/Wyalusing), junior Alexis Reedy (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra Area), and sophomore Ally Sheridan (Hanover Township, PA/Hanover Area). Reedy was third on the team last year with 154 kills and 166 points.

Directing the offense is junior setter Alexa Cassel (Mount Joy, PA/Lower Dauphin). Through her first two seasons she has recorded 1,222 assists including 726 last season. She was second on the team with 41 service aces and third with 207 digs.

"This is going to be her third season leading the program for us as our offensive leader, her experience is coming through and she is making better and better decisions," Czopek said about Cassel.

Graduate student Olivia Marsh (East Hampton, CT/East Hampton) and first year Rachael Anderson (Canmore, AB/West Island College) provide depth at the setter position for Wilkes.

Senior opposite Hope Ousey (Exton, PA/Henderson) was second on the team with 175 kills and 193.5 points in 2022. First year opposite Ava Wahlers (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) joins the position group this year.

Junior middle hitter Sierra Hines (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer) and graduate student middle hitter Allie Murie (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) return to provide a big net presence for the Colonels. Hines led the team with 54 blocks and a .224 hitting percentage in 2022. She totaled 111 kills and 143.5 points. Murie was second on the team with 49 blocks and registered 71 kills. Junior Jenna Baron (Nanticoke, PA/Greater Nanticoke Area) shifts to the middle for 2023.

Along the back row, senior libero Ali Yordy (Fairfield, PA/Fairfield Area) returns after leading Wilkes with 299 digs a season ago. She also recorded 33 aces. Senior defensive specialist Emily Gentzel (Yaphank, NY/Bellport) led the squad with 57 aces last season and was fourth with 196 digs. Two newcomers in sophomore defensive specialist Amanda Wunderlich (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) along with first year libero Emma Sanford (Las Vegas, NV/Arbor View) fill out the back row defense for 2023.

"All three (first year players) bring strong club experience with them and this will add depth to our roster and hopefully with the playing time we will get them in there and let them gain some court experience as well," Czopek said of Sanford, Anderson, and Wahlers.

The Colonels begin the 2023 season on Friday, September 1 hosting Keystone College at 7:00 p.m. inside the Marts Center. The inaugural Landmark Conference match for Wilkes is set for Friday, October 6 at Lycoming College. The Colonels are set for a stretch of nine conference matches from October 6th through October 28th.

"October is going to be fun; this is brand new to us as a program as we play all of the other nine Landmark schools over a four-week period," Czopek said. "It's going to be fast; it's going to be quick, and it's not going to give us time to do anything more than just prepare match to match."

The schedule includes 21 non-conference matches, 14 total matches at the Marts Center which includes four tri-matches.