POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist Volleyball team returns to action this weekend, opening the 2020-21 spring campaign following over a year without a competition. The Red Foxes are set to square off against the Iona Gaels on Sunday, Mar. 7 in a doubleheader. The first match is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m., and the second match is tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m.

 

SCHEDULE DETAILS

Marist's schedule has been shortened to only contain Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents for the spring season due to COVID-19 precautions. The Red Foxes will play five doubleheaders against various MAAC foes throughout the month of March, leading up to the MAAC Championships which will take place from Apr. 1-3 at the Albany Convention Center.

The first match of the doubleheader should start on time each day, however the second match start time is tentative. Teams are required to wait two hours and 30 minutes following the completion of the first match, before starting the second match. Stay tuned to goredfoxes.com and @MaristVB on twitter to get the most recent updates on scheduled start times.  

 

FOLLOW ALONG THIS SEASON

• All of Marist's home matches will be broadcasted live on either ESPN3 or ESPN+. Geoff Brault and Dean Lombardo will be on the call.
• Live statistics for every match will be available courtesy of GoRedFoxes.com
• Follow @MaristVB on both twitter and Instagram for live notifications and score updates during games, as well as program news throughout the season.

 

PROGRAM STATUS

Marist is coming off a 2019 season in which the team finished with an overall record of 15-15, which included an impressive 12-6 record in MAAC matches. The Red Foxes entered the MAAC Championships as the #4 seed, and promptly swept #5 Niagara in the first round of the tournament. Marist advanced to take on #1 Fairfield, but lost to the eventual MAAC Champions in a five-set thriller. Last week, the Red Foxes were picked to finish fourth in the conference in the 2021 MAAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. They will turn to a new-look roster in order to shatter those expectations.

 

SENIOR DAY

The Marist Volleyball program will take time in between matches on Sunday to celebrate Senior Day, and honor all four seniors for everything they have contributed to the team throughout their four years. "This senior class has truly gone above and beyond what is asked of athletes," Head Coach Sean Byron said. "They have welcomed our incoming class, and taught them what it's like to wear the jersey and represent Marist College. When it comes to on the court, this class is as talented as any I have coached, and the program will really miss them next year."

• Sarah Austin enters her senior season, having recently been named a captain for the Red Foxes. One of the most consistent outside hitters on the squad in 2019, Austin played in 30 matches and totaled career-bests in kills (279), digs (272), blocks (28), and assists (24). For her career, Austin has accumulated 575 kills, 570 digs, 54 blocks, and 41 assists. One of the highlights of her career came against Saint Peter's in 2019, when Austin had 20 kills and 20 digs in the same match becoming just the third player in in the last 10 years to do so.
• Courtney Kasperski is a three-time member of the MAAC All-Academic Team, who has played a key role as a defensive specialist for the Red Foxes the past three years. Kasperski appeared in 75 matches and played in 242 sets in her career, accumulating 441 digs and 33 assists. She also has a solid serve, as she was second on the team with 25 services aces in 2019 and had 37 for her career.
• Chidera Udeh has appeared in 35 matches, playing in 82 sets throughout her three years playing for Marist.  For her career, the North Carolina product has collected 121 kills and 60 total blocks. Off the court, Udeh is Vice President/Director of Marketing for Marist's Black Student-Athlete Alliance (BSAA).  She is also a three-time Dean's List honoree, and two-time selection to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
• Jocelyn Gorman has played in 33 matches for the Red Foxes, appearing in 85 sets. For her career, Gorman totaled 63 digs and 13 assists, three service aces, and even added a kill back in 2018.  The defensive specialist from Oregon also has a killer singing voice, and sung the national anthem prior to every home match since she joined the team as a freshman. Click HERE for more.

 

NEW FACES

Byron is expecting major contributions from his group of new comers in the 2021 campaign. Expect to see many, if not all, of the freshman class (and Jordan Rush) appear in the Red Foxes' starting lineups to begin the year. "I'm excited to finally get to see this group get on the court in Marist jerseys," Byron said. "They add physicality, competitiveness and great skill to our program, and they will play a key role in the upcoming season."

• Click HERE to learn more about Sasha van der Merwe and Jordan Newblatt.
• Click HERE to learn more about Jordan Rush, Kendall O'Brien, Vanessa Zolg, Anne Mahler, and Gabriella Heimbauer.

 

SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS

Just because they aren't seniors or newcomers doesn't mean they were forgotten. Both the sophomore and junior classes for the Red Foxes are expected to have key roles this season.

• Mckinley Fox is a junior captain, and will be the team's primary setter in 2020.
• Morgan Owens enters her second season as captain, and will play a key role on defense this year.
• Madelyn Waumans enters her junior year with some solid experience as an outside hitter. The California has already racked up 123 kills and 17 blocks in her Marist tenure thus far.
• Gabby Murray is fresh off being named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team in 2019, and will be a key figure in the middle of the court this season for the Red Foxes.

 

COACHING STAFF

• Sean Byron enters his second season at the helm for the Red Foxes. Byron had an impressive showing in his first season, improving the program's RPI from 266 in 2018 to 215 in 2019. He also coached a MAAC-leading 11 All-Academic Team honorees.
• Kelsey Lahey returns for her second season as an assistant coach for Marist, fresh off being named to Volleyball Magazine's Coaching Hotshots List following the 2019 season.
• Paul Vink-Lainas, the volleyball program's longest tenured coach, returns in 2021 for his fourth season in red and white.
• The Red Foxes' newest assistant coach happens to be a familiar face. Megan Fergus returns and joins the staff, following the completion of her four-year career with the team. If you want to learn more about Fergus, click HERE to check out her senior feature.

 

SCOUTING IONA

The Gaels finished the 2019 slate with an overall record of 5-23. All five of their wins came in MAAC play, as they compiled a 5-13 conference record. In this year's MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Iona was projected to finish eighth, garnering 35 points and finishing just above Manhattan and Saint Peter's. Jamie Smith is a plyer to watch for the Gaels, as she was deservedly named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Last season Smith led the Gaels with 356.5 points, 283 kills and 33 service aces. She also ranked second on the team with 72 blocks and third with 208 digs. Her points total ranked fourth in the MAAC, leading to her being named to the All-MAAC Second Team.
 
 

LOOKING AHEAD

Marist's next doubleheader is currently scheduled for Sunday, Mar. 14. The Red Foxes will take on the Rider Broncs in Lawrenceville, NJ. Match one is currently set for Noon.