Volleyball Set to Begin Season Saturday

CARLINVILLE, IL – Blackburn College Volleyball begins the 2024 season Saturday and feature a new leader who will look to meld a group of returners that reached the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with a talented group of newcomers. 

The team enters the season under new guidance as Shannon Bishop begins her first season at the helm. Leading a hungry squad, Bishop takes over a group that has worked hard throughout the preseason. She will look to lean on her senior leaders Cara Pence and Jessica Muckensturm. 

Pence returns after earning Third Team All-SLIAC last season and comes into the year looking to not only lead the offensive attack but will play a new role as she expects to play both the front and back rows this season. Muckensturm takes on a larger role this season and will put pressure on opponents' defense with her strong serving ability. 

Junior Zoe Mitchell returns in the middle to protect the net and is expected to make more contributions in the offense. Sophomore Kenadee Frey led the team in aces last year and takes over a major role as she will lead the offense as the team's setter. Sophomore Bailey Bennett takes over as the team's libero after gaining experience last season. 

Senior Abygail Sobczak and junior Jordan Watts return to the team after missing last season. Sobczak will help run the offense as another setter with Jordan aiming to make an impact to the offensive attack. 

Joining the team this year will be juniors Ella Person and Payton Moeglin along with freshman Naomi Lansaw and Jessi Wright. Person comes to campus looking to make an impact after playing for William Penn University the past two seasons, with Moegling coming in from Southeastern Illinois College and will look to make an immediate impact playing both rows. Lansaw and Wright come to the team eyeing an opportunity during their first season at Blackburn. 

The team gets the season started Saturday with two matches at Illinois College where they will take on the hosts along with Dominican University.