Grove City Women's Volleyball - 2024 Season Preview - Grove City College Athletics (2024)

Women's Volleyball 8/28/2024 9:00:00 AM

GROVE CITY, Pa. – The list of seniors might be short but the list of experienced players is quite long for the Grove City College women's volleyball team as the Wolverines prepare for the 2024 season.

Three-year starting setter Kennedy Kerr (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) returns as Grove City's lone senior while junior Brooklyn Wirebaugh (Medina, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) joins Kerr at the setter position.

Kerr earned Second Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference recognition as a junior after leading the team with 56 aces and in assist average (5.10 per set). She ranks fourth all-time at the College with 138 aces and will again be a key cog in Grove City's offensive attack.

Wirebaugh played in all 30 matches as a sophom*ore while complementing Kerr. She averaged 4.26 assists per set and ranked second on the team with 41 aces. Wirebaugh is a two-year letterwinner who will again team with Kerr to give Grove City one of the conference's top setting combinations.

Six juniors join Wirebaugh in Grove City's contingent of third-year players. Outside hitter Bella Costa (Newbury, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) returns after missing 2023 due to injury. She finished third on the team in kills and digs as a rookie in 2022 while also serving 43 aces. Costa aims to reclaim a starting spot this fall.

Junior defensive specialist Alex Anderson (Maineville, Ohio/Mars Hill), junior defensive specialist Ella Kopas (Tucson, Ariz./Veritas), outside hitter Keira Sipe (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton La Salle) and outside hitter Lila Stonehouse (Hatboro, Pa./Abington) are all looking to break into the lineup on a regular basis after seeing reserve duty in 2023.

Grove City has also added 5-foot-10 junior Kyla Campbell (Altoona, Pa./Glendale) to the program this fall. Campbell will compete for time at middle blocker in 2024.

Two All-PAC honorees return to help lead the Wolverines' six-woman sophom*ore class. Outside hitter/libero Julia Fisher (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and Alexis Standford (Walkersville, Md./New Life Christian) both earned Honorable Mention All-Conference following their freshman season.

Fisher led Grove City in dig average while also serving 28 aces. She will look to hold down the starting libero spot in 2024. Standford, meanwhile, ranked second on the team in kill average (2.19) and third on the squad with 56 total blocks. Both players are expected to be integral parts of the rotation again in 2024.

Sophom*ore outside hitter Alayna Dorst (Middletown, Del./Middletown) emerged as 2023 progressed and highlighted her rookie season with 13 kills in the regular season finale against Geneva. Dorst played in 29 matches last year and will contend for a full-time starting post this year.

Sophom*ore middle blocker Kendra Klusch (Alliance, Ohio/Homeschooled) and sophom*ore Lily Lagaras (Crofton, Md./Crofton) are both in pursuit of full-time spots in the lineup this year after seeing time as rookies. Klusch played in a dozen matches last year while Lagaras made 20 appearances for the Wolverines.

Sophom*ore setter Sarah Harris (Lebanon, Ohio/Mars Hill) will compete for a spot in the rotation 2024 after seeing spot duty during her freshman season.

Sixth-year head coach Leo Sayles (83-50) and staff have also welcomed a sextet of newcomers to the program this fall. All six freshmen are expected to compete for time this season.

Grove City opens the 2024 season Friday and Saturday at the Cedar Point Tournament in Sandusky, Ohio. The home schedule begins September 20-21, when the Wolverines host a joint weekend tournament with nearby Westminster. Conference play begins Saturday, October 5 when the Wolverines host Chatham at 1 p.m. in the historic Grove City College Arena.