BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott College and reigning CNE Player of the Year Hadley Helenbrook are back and looking to defend their title in the Conference of New England in 2025. However, Wentworth Institute of Technology – last year’s conference runner-ups – amongst other look to unseat the Gulls as we look ahead to the 2025 fall in the CNE.
 
Curry College
The Curry Women’s Volleyball team will enter the season under the leadership of Alex Adelman, as he begins his second year at the helm. A late hire last season, Adelman was able to bring in his first full recruiting class, bringing in seven new players. One of those to look out for is Kyla Martin, a 5-6 outside hitter from Westport, MA. A two-sport varsity athlete in high school, Martin is poised to make an immediate impact on the team. Of the returners, the Colonels will look to rely on Emma St. Cyr and Sonja Matheson, who rank in the top 10 in program history in set assists and attacks, respectively. The Colonels will also bring back Sydney DeCarvalho, their Libero from the 2023 season. After sitting out all of last year due to an injury, she is ready to return to action to help the Colonels win. Curry opens the season up on Saturday by hosting a tri-match with Emmanuel and Lesley.
Additions: Ciara Crayton, Carley May, Kyla Martin, Savannah Milso, Arianna Moore, Faith Edgehille, Brooklyn Buchanan
Graduates: Jenn Cotter, Jess Sullivan
 
Endicott College
The Endicott women’s volleyball team opens up its 2025 season on the road against Simmons and Emerson on Saturday, August 30 at 1/3 PM. Endicott brings back four All-Conference honorees including CNE Player of the Year Hadley Helenbrook and Rookie of the Year Hannah Maguire. First-year head coach Emma Smallcomb takes the reins for Endicott after serving as an assistant coach at Brandeis University the past two seasons. Offensively the Gulls return four athletes who recorded 100 or more kills last season- Helenbrook, Ava Grace Dresback, Stephanie Moreau, and Annie Draper. Endicott will look to secure their 11th conference championship in program history after defeating Wentworth in last season’s championship match. The Blue and Green square off with five teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament last season.
Additions: Ava Barnhart, Susanna Mikkelsen, and Abby Parulis
Graduates: Amelia Beigel, Savannah Cambell, Megan Murphy, and Emma Ruel
 
Gordon College
Gordon Women’s Volleyball is led by first-year head coach Derek Schmitt and returns 10 veterans for the 2025 season. The Fighting Scots finished with an 8-13 overall record last season to go with a 3-6 mark in conference play.
Annie Zimmerman posted 83 kills and 20 service aces last season while Haley Hutzler and Maria Clarabuch both notched 82 kills. Annika Schmitt paced Gordon with 381 assists and 48 service aces a year ago. Defensively, Teagan Brideweser recorded 71 total blocks and Annika Schmitt ranked second on the squad with 160 digs.
The Fighting Scots open the 2025 campaign August 29 at home against Lasell.
Additions: Allison Trogdon, Quinn Arico, Jael Ledbetter, Alexandra Burnett, Alicia Kennedy, Vivian Castano
Graduated: Wren Worth, Aba Asante, Joey Keltner, Annie Murphy, Olivia Fleming

JWU (Providence)
Following a 2024 campaign which saw the Wildcats hit the 20-win mark and advance to the conference finals for the eighth time in nine years, the Wildcats begin their first year in the CNE looking to continue a winning tradition which saw them win seven-straight GNAC Championships. Fourth-year head coach Mike Houlian returns six starters from a year ago, including 2024 GNAC Rookie of the Year Nevaeh Arnold, seniors Sierra Nausieda (2024 GNAC Third Team) and Ajie Jagne (77 blocks in 2024), and sophomores Sophia Dephilippo (449 assists), Skylaw WInchester (182 kills), and Bailey Koopman (131 kills, 95 blocks). Last year, JWU went 4-3 against CNE opponents.

Additions: Felicity Adams, Sophia Santacroce, Trinity Ricevuto, Vivi Mansfield, Brooke Caquelin, 
Graduates: Peyton Oliver
 
Nichols College
The Nichols College women’s volleyball program enters the 2025 season with renewed energy and a fresh perspective under new head coach Caryn Sibiskie. With a balance of experienced returners and promising newcomers, the Bison are looking to spark a new era for Nichols volleyball. The Bisons return several key contributors from last year’s roster. Kya Burdier (Sr.) ranked second on the team in kills (131) and was in the top three in both assists (123) and digs (121). She also etched her name in program history by recording the first-ever triple-double (11 kills, 20 assists, 11 digs). Ruby St. Onge (Gr.) led the team in assists (287) while setting career highs in service aces (34) and digs (117). Melina Bezati (Sr.) recorded 42 kills, 33 digs, and 10 blocks as a junior, highlighted by a career-high 12-kill performance.The Bisons open their season on the road against FDU-Florham on Saturday, August 30th at Campbell Sports Center for the Sarah Lawrence Tri-Match.
Additions: Angelina Steiger and freshmen Cami Layman, Alyssa Morse, and Brooke Partridge. 
Graduated: Liz Diorio, Luna Colozzo, Haylee Granato
 
Roger Williams University
Coming off a 17-12 season and a 6-3 mark in the Conference of New England (CNE) the Roger Williams University Women’s Volleyball team looks to build on its momentum heading into the 2025 campaign under head coach Danielle Davis.
The Hawks return a strong core of veteran talent, including senior outside hitter Brianna Picchietti (Batavia, Ill.), who led the team with 284 kills and averaged 2.84 per set last season. Sophomore middle hitter Angela West (Riverview, Fla.) adds balance at the net after finishing second on the team with 232 kills and a .293 hitting percentage.
Defensively, junior libero Marianna Hernandez (Norwalk, Conn.) anchors the back row after recording a team-high 500 digs in 2024. Senior setter Emma Bosco (North Andover, Mass.) and sophomore outside hitter Peyton Felix (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) also return as key contributors, combining for over 180 points last season.
Additions: Adele Kasper, Samantha Devino, Victoria Lisboa, Zoe Scilbelli, Ava McGonagle, Michaela McGovern
Graduated: Ava Mattiucci, Hailey Brasseur, Taylor Joyner
 
Suffolk University
2024 Record: 23-7, 5-4 CNE / Postseason: Fourth Seed, CNE First Round
Returners: 11 | Graduated: 6 | Newcomers: 9
Suffolk women’s volleyball has written and rewritten its own record books over the Scott Blanchard era and is coming off the winningest season in program history with a 23-7 overall record.
With the mix of 11 returners and nine newcomers the Rams aim to make more history in 2025; with sights set on the program's first-ever appearance in a conference championship match. The blue-and-gold has reached the semis in two of the last three campaigns.

The Rams will rely on two-time all-league performer Sami Shore (0.71 bps, 2.43 kps) to lead the way offensively as well as her co-captains Grace Cervenka (0.64 bps, 1.42 kps), an all-conference second-team selection in 2023, and Chloe Clement (1.89 kps), while Aislinn Lanigan (3.52 assists per set) will be called upon to set up the attack once again.

Suffolk’s 30th season begins with a tri-match at UMass Dartmouth Saturday, Aug. 30. The Rams will face Ursinus in match one at 12:00 p.m., before taking on the host Corsairs at 2:00 p.m. 
 
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford Volleyball team will be looking to make the postseason for the first time in six years in 2025 after finishing last season 9-13 with a 3-6 conference record. Head Coach Vinh Nguyen returns for his eighth season for the Hawks bringing along 10 returners coming back. The top returner for Hartford is junior Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) who contributed 266 kills (3.45 kills per set) and 160 digs last season. Junior Jenna Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) is also a key return for the Hawks after leading the team with 74 blocks last season to go with 82 kills. Senior captain Kylee Connally (Dallas, Texas) is looking for a great year ahead as the top setter after producing 280 assists and 90 digs in 2024. Hartford will have both top liberos returning in 2025 as junior Emilie Hatje (Middlefield, Conn.) had 134 digs and 21 assists from the backline, while junior Kalle Legassey (Prospect, Conn.) also returns after registering 125 digs, 30 aces and 22 assists. The season opens with a four-match homestand, starting on August 30^th against Salve Regina with a 1:00 PM start.
Additions: Lucy Dieterlen, Lauren Johnson, Gabriela Caucci, Camille Earl, Mattea Cosby, Grace O’Brien
Graduated: Amaiya Lu, Sydney Ball

University of New England
The University of New England and 6th-year head coach Ian Blanchard have five starters back for a 2024 squad that had a winning ledger in conference play (5-4) for the first time since 2013, and was just one overall win shy of matching the most by the program in over 25 years. Senior outside hitter Ellijah Hanley returns from an all-conference second team campaign last season, which included 3.85 points/set. Senior libero Kelsey Bradshaw topped the group with 3.71 digs/set and 0.70 aces/set, while senior middle blocker Kailyn Reilly, junior middle blocker Kendall Gallaugher, and junior outside hitter Hannah Nowell were among statistical leaders in most other categories.
Additions: Natalie Battinelli, Kenzie Cleary, Delainey Dunkerley, Josie Eliot, Syd Fye, Julia Graham, Lylah Shumway, Laura Zahornasky, Abby Zamora
Graduates: Viktoria Pavlyuk, Taressa Szewczyk

Wentworth Institute of Technology
Under third-year Head Coach Nick Baldecchi, the Wentworth Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team quickly asserted themselves as one of the top teams in the CNE during his time, making their second straight appearance in the conference title match in 2024 with an 18-11 overall record. The Leopards return 13 letterwinners from last season’s team, including All-CNE Second Team honoree Emma Sanders and All-CNE Third Team members Kate McLane and Olivia Vaughn. Notable seniors returning include Riley Schoonmaker, a former conference Rookie of the Year, and defensive anchor Amanda Zweifler, both of whom will be relied on heavily as the Leopards look to regain conference champion bragging rights. The Black & Gold also bring in an impressive group of 12 talented newcomers eyeing to help the 2023 conference champions return to familiar status. Wentworth opens their season at the Brandeis Tournament, first battling WPI on Friday, August 29.
Additions: Megan Bachli, Vanessa Lobrigo, Jagoda Szczepaniak, Ella Stadtherr, Kate Koliopoulos, Sydnee Smith, Ava Rocchio, Sarah Gehrig, Mika Swanson, Angelina Homsy, Elena Davenport, Montserrat Duron
Graduated: Ashley Cao, Lexi Zabloudil, Helen Barthe, Ema Thompson, Sydney Brooke, Abby Maher
 
Western New England University
Following a successful 2024 campaign which saw the Western New England women’s volleyball team reach 20+ wins for the first time since 2016, the Golden Bears will look to add to that success under third-year head coach Matt Lein. Lein’s squad will carry a different look this year with the graduation of four of their top five point-getters from a year ago. Despite the different lineup, the Golden Bears will see sophomore outside hitter Léa Barber return to the floor this season, coming off a freshman campaign in which the Bethany, Connecticut native smashed down 241 kills, the second most on the team. With a turnover in their lineup, WNE will now look to a trio of seniors, Leah Warren, Rachel Critz, and Ariana Barbosa, to lead the squad in 2025. 
Lein’s Golden Bears will feature five first-year student-athletes from five different states as well as two transfer student-athletes, Adrionne Sharp from Oakton College and Cassie Durocher from Nichols College. Western New England women’s volleyball will open their 2025 season at the SUNY Morrisville Tournament, playing four matches in two days, beginning on Friday, August 29 at 3:00 PM against Alfred State College, followed by matches against Geneva College (Pa.), Thomas College, and SUNY Morrisville. The home opener for WNE will be on Saturday, September 13, at 11:00 AM against WPI as part of a tri-match with Keene State College.

Additions: Lauren Chagnon, Cassie Durocher, Charlei Henkel, Abby Krulis, Brianna Manes, Sage Pycz, Adrionne Sharp
Graduates: Alyzza Alicea, Ava Cariddi, Taylor Geist, Alissa Hawes, Becca Mayer, Yemayma Molina, Isabelle Petty
 
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE OF NEW ENGLAND
Originally founded in 1984 as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), and reconstituted as the Conference of New England (CNE) in 2024, the CNE is an NCAA Division III athletic conference composed of 11 full member and five associate member institutions throughout the New England region. Its membership aims to provide student-athletes with a positive experience in their pursuit of excellence through high academic standards, quality competition and a meaningful student life. The Conference administers championships in 21 intercollegiate sports.