ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany women's volleyball team opens the 2025 season at the Rocket Invitational on Friday, August 29, playing Saint Francis at 12:00 p.m. and the host, Toledo, at 6:00 p.m. in Toledo, Ohio. The Great Danes will finish out their opening tournament with a 2:30 p.m. match-up against Robert Morris on Saturday.
 
SEASON GOALS
UAlbany aims to win its first America East tournament title since 2019 and the eighth in program history, while pushing for the program's 11th America East regular-season crown.
 
"We are excited to get on the court with this tea," said head coach Josh Pickard. "We are playing some great competition out of our region, as well as some great N.Y. schools. Two of our trips take us to the home states of our players, which is always a great time."
 
2024 REVIEW
UAlbany finished 12-15 overall and 5-5 in America East play. The Great Danes clinched an America East tournament berth with a win over Bryant, then upset the No. 1 seed and host Binghamton in the semifinals to reach the championship match. UAlbany fell to New Hampshire 3-1 in the final, but the late surge set the tone for 2025. Individually, outside hitter Shynelle Woroniuk earned First Team All-Conference and All-Academic honors. Setter Maria Olga Siapani was the America East Rookie of the Year, posting 11 double-doubles and multiple 40-assist matches.
 
THE SQUAD
Back are key contributors, including OH Shynelle Woroniuk, MB Gabriella Karman, DS/L Brooke Malek, MB Tori Wilson, MB Campbell Robinson, OPP Kendall Harris, DS/L Kiki Provatas, and DS/L Kasia Barletta. Sophomore Maria Olga Siapani returns as the starting setter, and UAlbany adds graduate transfer setter Elif Yasar (Stetson) to bolster the position. Newcomers include OH/RS transfer McKenna Collins (Bryant) and freshmen Sophie Burkey, Ava Schewe, and Duri Harden.
 
AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL AND TEAM
The coaches picked New Hampshire first, with UAlbany and UMBC tied for second. Two Great Danes made the Preseason All-Conference Team: OH Shynelle Woroniuk and S Maria Olga Siapani.
 
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Non-conference highlights include the UAlbany Invitational at the PE Gym (Sept. 4-6) with Syracuse, Cornell, and Canisius, a trip to Boston College with Dartmouth and Sacramento State (Sept. 12-14), and the Red Raider Classic to face the host, Texas Tech, Incarnate Word, and Ole Miss (Sept. 19-20). Conference home dates include Binghamton (Sept. 26), NJIT (Oct. 10), New Hampshire (Oct. 24), Bryant (Oct. 26), and UMBC (Nov. 14). The America East Championship is slated for Nov. 21-22 or 22-23.
 
HOME GAMES AND PROMOTIONS
Thu, Sept. 4 vs. Syracuse - Home Opener
 
Fri, Sept. 5 vs. Cornell
 
Sat, Sept. 6 vs. Canisius - Postgame Autographs
 
Fri, Sept. 26 vs. Binghamton - International Students Night
 
Tue, Oct. 7 vs. Siena - Purple Out
 
Fri, Oct. 10 vs. NJIT - Pink Game
 
Fri, Oct. 24 vs. New Hampshire - Blackout (Black T-shirt Giveaway)
 
Sun, Oct. 26 vs. Bryant - Spooky Sunday & Camper Day
 
Fri, Nov. 14 vs. UMBC - Senior Night & Food Frenzy
 
HOW TO WATCH
All UAlbany home matches will be streamed live on AE.TV, available to fans worldwide, including international viewers. Streaming links for each match can be found on the UAlbany volleyball schedule page.
 
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