DAYTON – The University of Dayton volleyball is beginning the 2025 regular season at the Utah Classic in Salt Lake City and will face Lafayette, No. 23 Utah and Washington State on Aug. 29-30. The season will open with a first-time opponent in Lafayette before taking on Utah in enemy territory. On Aug. 30, the Flyers will wrap up its time in Utah against Washington State.

ABOUT DAYTON
The Flyers finished the 2024 season 31-3 with an appearance in NCAA Regionals. Dayton is starting this season at No. 24 in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll and first in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll.

Eight Flyers have returned to the 2025 roster. Outside hitter Corrie Anderson, outside hitter Sydney Barrett and middle blocker Abigail Cresse redshirted last season but should see playing time this year. Returning also are senior defensive specialist/libero Karissa Kaminski, redshirt junior outside hitter Kaitlyn McNeel, redshirt senior outside hitter Taylor Russell, senior middle blocker/opposite Liana Sarkissian and senior defensive special/libero Emily Young, all of whom played during the team's Sweet 16 appearance last season.

New faces for this season include five freshmen and five transfers. Defensive specialist/libero Morgan Asleson (LaGrange, Ill. / Benet Academy), middle blocker Addi Gallentine (Newburgh, Ind. / Castle), middle blocker Claire Logeais (Prior Lake, Minn. / Academy of Holy Angels), setter Melina Schrader (New Bremen, Ohio / New Bremen) and middle blocker/opposite Isabel Simmons (Sioux Falls, S.D. / Sioux Falls Jefferson) make up this season's freshman class. This year's transfers include junior defensive specialist/libero Lily Barry from Illinois, sophomore outside hitter Lejla Sara Hadžiredžepović from Clemson, junior outside hitter Kamryn Hunt from Ohio, redshirt junior outside hitter Panna Ratkai from Purdue Fort Wayne and senior setter Viktoria Wahlgren from Virginia Tech / Utah.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
The Lafayette Leopards finished last season 7-18 overall with a 2-14 Patriot League record. This will be the team's first season under CJ Werneke. Lafayette returned its leading setter, sophomore Mackenzie Calhoun, who led the team with 264 assists and 22 service aces. Senior libero Emily Gouldrup led the Leopards with 288 digs last season. This is the first time Dayton is playing Lafayette.

Utah sits at No. 23 in the AVCA Preseason Poll, finishing the 2024 season 25-6 overall and 14-4 in the Big 12 with an appearance in the NCAA Second Round. In an exhibition against No. 5 Texas, sophomore Kamryn Gibadlo, an AVCA All-Region and All-Big 12 first team selection, led the Utes with nine kills and six digs. Defensively, junior Emrie Moea'i led the team in solo blocks with three and blocking assists with four. The Flyers and Utes have not met since 2007, where Dayton won in five sets.

Washington State ended the 2024 campaign 16-12 with an 11-7 conference record in the West Coast Conference. Redshirt sophomore Lucie Blažková was named to the WCC Preseason Team after earning All-WCC second team and freshman team honors last season. The Cougars are also returning six players from last season with 12 newcomers. Washington State has won both meetings, defeating the Flyers in four sets in the first round of the 2023 NCAA First Round.

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