Volleyball Seeks Return to Postseason With Added Depth

CARLINVILLE, IL -- Blackburn College Volleyball seeks a return to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament after adding significant depth to their roster. 

The Beavers return three starters from last year's squad led by junior setter Kenadee Frey who reached 1,000 career assists last season. Frey will look to lead the offense again with returning hitters in senior Payton Moeglin and Zoe Mitchell. Moeglin was second on the team with 174 kills last season while Mitchell finished second with a .212 hitting percentage while adding 144 kills. Mitchell will also be looked at to protect the net as after leading the team in blocks a year ago. 

Also returning to the Beavers are senior Ella Person and sophomores Naomi Lansaw and Jessi Wright. Person will be eyed to take a larger roll in the offensive attack after posting 80 kills last season while Lansaw will join Frey in leading the offense. Wright returns as the lone defensive specialist. 

Joining the team this year is a crop of newcomers looking to make an immediate impact. Up front Maddie Sidwell and Rylea Black will add offensive firepower while Kendal Yates, Brooke Cawthon, Kharma Giles, Rean Ward and Zara Harper look to compete for time in their first year. Junior Becca Benoit returns to Blackburn after missing the 2024 season but adds experience after appearing in several matches her freshman season. 

Elise Walch adds depth to the setter position and will push Frey and Lansaw in leading the offensive attack. 

Defensively, Wright will be joined by Elexus Frey, Marissa Perez and Makenah Dugan who will compete for immediate time in the back row. Mattie Key, Shyanne Sullivan and Taylor Bradburn come in to add depth and look to gain experience in the first year at BC. 

With a better atmosphere every day, the team is excited to get the season started Saturday at Franklin College where the take on the Grizzlies and Miami University-Hamilton. The Beavers open their home slate on Monday, September 1 with a tri-match by hosting Spurgeon College and Beloit College. SLIAC play opens September 20 at Webster and sees the team play Mississippi University for Women and Webster University.