BYLINE: By Christian Tufino
The Plattsburgh State Women’s volleyball team entered the 2025 season with optimistic energy, ready to rebound from a rough 2024 season.
Coming from a 4-22 record last season the Cardinals have opened this season with a 2-4 home tournament record winning games against Potsdam and Keuka College. Under the guidance of Head Coach Eimile O’Brien, they seek to build team chemistry with their newcomers to bolster their strength as a unit.
Leading the team offensively with a total of 205 kills and 2.36 kills per set in the 2024 season, Outside Hitter Liya Girma already has 60 kills to start the season off and is expected to be a consistent and important part of the Cardinals offense through scoring, reception and serving.
Junior Right Side Hitter Darby Collyear continues to grow in consistency and confidence from her last season. She ended last season with 153 kills and 1.76 kills per set, this season she comes in strong with 60 kills on 2.31 kills per set. Collyear will continue to be a player to look out for as she continues to grow more confident and develop her game.
In the backcourt KC Burke acts as a guardian to the Cardinals team. Burke has been a consistent defensive anchor for the Cardinals with her most notable games in the 2024 season being against Potsdam, Saint Micheal’s, and Skidmore, where she would achieve 16 digs, 13 digs, and 14 digs respectively. Burke continues to be a defensive presence as she recorded 30 digs against Keuka.
The team has six new incoming first year players, there’s Taylor Murphey playing OH/RS, Elena Stavroulakis playing L/DS, Alyssa Marcellus playing MB, Emily O’Brien playing S, Cathryn Todd playing DS, Lindsay Pedersen playing MB/RS. Jen Lonway, a sophomore transfer student and Senior Katie Salphine rejoined after taking a one year gap.
The Cardinals go into a nine road game stretch starting from Sept 5 to Sep 24. Starting with Clarkson, St. John Fisher, and Keuka College, this stretch will serve to test the team’s resilience both physically and mentally.
After this three week stretch people get to look forward to a string of high-stakes rival home games. Matches against Oswego, Buffalo, and Fredonia should all be high energy matches. The “Rock the Red” showdown against Potsdam, Sep 30.
As the team continues to integrate newcomers and develop their veteran talent we will continue to see our Cardinals fly much higher than they did last season.
