Women’s Volleyball Eying Start of the Season
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's volleyball team is slated to become the first Mariner team to kick off their fall 2025 season, beginning play with a non-conference tri-match at SUNY Maritime on Saturday, August 30, featuring the Privateers and Mass. Maritime.
The Mariners will then open up Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play at Norwich on Wednesday, September 3, before hosting a non-league tri-match on Saturday, September 6, squaring off against Mount Saint Vincent and Mass. Maritime. A 25 game schedule is on tap, featuring 14 games against conference opponents and 11 non-conference clashes. The out of conference schedule also includes matches against Vermont State Lyndon, Rhode Island College, Purchase, Lesley, Eastern Connecticut, Husson, and Bridgewater State.
With Head Coach Tim Gaiser returning for his third consecutive season (fourth overall) in New London, the Mariners will be looking to break through and earn a spot in the the 2025 GNAC Volleyball Championship Tournament for the first time in program history after narrowly missing out each of the previous two falls. A well-blended roster of veteran leadership, well preforming underclassmen, and a promising group of first year student-athletes will be key for Mitchell as they navigate what promises to be a competitive all around schedule.
Leading the Mariners will be senior captain and libero Julia Lent (Miller Place, N.Y.), the program's all-time leader in digs and a four-time GNAC Libero of the Week selection in 2024. Additionally, sophomore Genna Hyde (Cypress, TX) will look to build on an impressive freshman campaign where she led the team with 283 kills, good for second most in a single season in program history.
The Mitchell women's volleyball team was also tabbed to finish No. 11 in the conference standings, as the GNAC recently released their 2025 Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll. The Mariners earned 52 points in the poll, which was conducted by the league's 14 head coaches.
Lasell University enters the 2025 campaign looking to capture its third consecutive GNAC Championship after being tabbed the preseason favorite. The Lasers collected 190 points, while Regis followed close behind with 174 points and three first-place votes to secure the second spot. Emmanuel claimed the third position with 155 points and one first-place vote, while Simmons landed in fourth at 150 points. Saint Joseph's (Maine) was just a point behind the Sharks in fifth place at 149. Rivier University collected 138 points, including a single first-place nod, to round out the top six.
Colby-Sawyer checked in at seventh with 110 points, followed by New England College (94), Dean College (90), and the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (58). Mitchell (52), Elms (45), Albertus Magnus (42), and Norwich (23) completed the preseason rankings in that order.
The 2025 GNAC Volleyball season officially begins on Friday, August 29, with non-conference matchups across the region. Conference play is set to begin on Saturday, September 6, with teams competing in a full single round-robin schedule. The top eight programs at the conclusion of the regular season will qualify for the 2025 GNAC Volleyball Championship Tournament. Quarterfinals are slated for Tuesday, November 4, followed by semifinals on Thursday, November 6. The championship match will be held on Saturday, November 8, with the winner claiming the GNAC crown and the league's automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship.
2025 Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Lasell 190 (9)
2. Regis 174 (3)
3. Emmanuel 155 (1)
4. Simmons 150
5. Saint Joseph's (Maine) 149
6. Rivier 138 (1)
7. Colby-Sawyer 110
8. New England College 94
9. Dean 90
10. University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) 58
11. Mitchell 52
12. Elms 45
13. Albertus Magnus 42
14. Norwich 23
