With the Marist volleyball season in full swing, we gathered our writers to analyze the team’s outlook this season.
Marist came in at the middle of the pack in this year’s MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Is this rating too high, too low, or just right?
Ben Leeds, Volleyball Beat Writer: Though Marist will be without key players of years past, the ranking of sixth is too low. Fairfield and Quinnipiac understandably top the poll, but after that, nobody is set in stone. Sacred Heart landed in the third sport, completing the all-Connecticut top three, but the Pioneers are yet to prove themselves in MAAC play, joining this season from the NEC.
Rider finished strong last season, even taking a set off the eventual MAAC Champion Stags; they are worthy of their place above Marist. The Broncs return their primary outside hitters, junior Kiannisha Santiago and sophomore Paige Giehtbrock, as well as their starting setters and libero. I think it is fair to slot Marist in at fourth, right behind Rider.
Nate Shoemaker, Contributor: Marist lost some key players but they found a lot of newcomers. I expect Marist to finish right in the middle of the pack. Fairfield and Quinnipiac rightfully belong at the top of the poll and teams like Rider and Sacred Heart earned their spots towards the top as well.
Marist will compete for either the 5th or the 6th seed and with a lot of newcomers, which will take time to establish a rhythm. Graduate student Jamison White may be the most important piece impact to where the team finishes in the MAAC. I consider the setter as the leader on the court and once she gets in a rhythm with her hitters, the offense will help them finish higher in the standings.
Tyler Steinberg, Contributor: The sixth-place ranking by the MAAC preseason coaches’ poll is fair. This team is short on upperclassmen, as Marist will rely on younger players to step up and make a difference. There are many unknown variables surrounding this team. Whether these factors are positive or negative will become evident once conference play begins. Until then, the Red Foxes are in a good position with significant room for improvement.
Mike Duda, Contributor: Despite top-three finishes in the MAAC for the past three seasons, the preseason poll ranks Marist perfectly at sixth. Fairfield’s five consecutive regular season titles clearly merit their number one ranking, and Quinnipiac looks strong as the number two with Preseason Player of the Year Ginevra Giovagnoni. Additionally, Iona and Niagara boast Preseason All-MAAC Team members. Moreover, Rider returns a bulk of their lineup, and Sacred Heart fared well in their first six contests.
Marist continued their playoff struggles last year when Iona defeated them in the first round of the postseason, amidst the Red Foxes dropping six out of their final nine matches. Marist also lost five key players this offseason; therefore, I believe Marist received a proper preseason ranking.
Marist is without its top four pin hitters from last year. Who do you think will be the team’s outside hitter and right-side hitter options when MAAC play begins at the end of September?
Ben: Freshman outside hitter Taylor Miller has proved early on that she is worthy of a permanent spot in the Marist lineup. Miller has started all six matches for the Red Foxes and leads the way with 35 kills. She hasn’t been efficient, swinging at a negative attack percentage, but that has been par for the course for this Marist offense that doesn’t feature any hitter at over a .100 clip.
The offense has struggled so far in its tough out-of-conference schedule, but Miller’s workload is a sign of what’s to come; the freshman leads the team in attack attempts with 130, and second on the list is 25 behind her. Miller notched 24 kills last weekend in three matches, earning her a spot on the Kathy DeBoer Invitational All-Tournament Team. I’m expecting her to remain a key part of this lineup as the season continues.
Nate: I think sophomore Sarah Dasic will be the starting outside hitter for the team and freshman Sarah Bumstead will be the team’s starting right side. During Marist’s first match, Dasic led the way with eight kills and a .438 hitting percentage. Dasic is currently second on the team in kills. If she continues her great play she should earn the starting outside spot.
Bumstead also had a big first weekend. In the third match, Bumstead led the way with eight kills, and in 2023 she made the OVA all-star team. Bumstead has had a great start to the season and if she continues to play like she did vs UTSA she could take the starting right-side spot.
Tyler: When it comes to losing your top four hitters from the previous season, it is hard to replace that talent and experience for Marist. For the open spot on the outside, I would lean on Sara Dasic. Marist actively recruited in the transfer portal when they came across the sophomore standout from Indian Rivers State College. Dasic had 107 kills on 345 attacks in 15 matches. Dasic has played at a high collegiate level before and can pioneer what has the potential to be one of the deadliest front rows in the MAAC.
For the open spot on the right side, I believe Marist should choose Jamison White out of Nashville, Tennessee. Miller has the height and speed to play at the highest level. White played 4 seasons at the University of New Hampshire. In 66 matches, White tallied 71 kills, 382 assists and 214 digs. There is always the chance that White can stick to setter and be a leader for a team with many freshmen and sophomores. Marist can easily run a 6-2 playstyle with 2 setters and White can set while in the back row. With all things considered, White has made a great case to be made to get that starting right-side spot while also still using her setting ability to help out the team.
Mike: Marist will fill the vacant role of a right-side hitter with freshman Sarah Bumstead. Throughout the team’s first six matches, Bumstead sits tied for first among right-side hitters in kills and ranks second on the team in blocks with four. The Canadian native has started every match thus far, including against UTSA, where she notched a 9.5-point performance.
I predict the Red Foxes will turn to Sophomore Sara Dasic for the outside hitter role. The Serbian native ranks second on the team in kills and leads outside hitters in assists, service aces, digs, and blocks. Thus, if she continues her great play, Dasic should win the position battle and start at an outside hitter.
In the first two weekends of the season, what new or returning Red Fox has stood out the most to you?
Ben: Jamison White without a doubt. Setter is arguably the most important position on the court, losing senior Claire Lewis to injury left a huge question mark at the position for Marist. White has filled it early, a huge benefit for the Red Foxes going forward.
White has played every set this season for the Red Foxes, allowing her to gel with her hitters in-game action, as opposed to just working together in practice. This is crucial for Marist, as nearly all hitters are new to the program. White has already recorded 101 assists in the young season as she continues to acclimate herself to the offense.
Nate: A returner who stood out to me was senior Alyssa White and a new player who played well throughout the first couple of matches was graduate student Jamison White. Jamison White has started every match this season and has performed well. She leads the team in assists but also leads the team in digs with 24.
Alyssa White has started all six matches this season in the middle and leads the team in blocks so far with 7. Alyssa white has 17 kills this season, placing second on the team; she may become more of a leader this year after coming off a solid junior campaign.
Tyler: Sophomore libero Katherine Thompson has the chance to become a very valuable piece for the Red Foxes. In volleyball, if the first pass in serve receive is not sufficient, the rest of the offense is thrown out of rhythm.
In Thompson’s freshman year, she played in 22 matches and recorded 62 assists with 242 digs. With those stats, she is also a threat on the service line tallying 18 aces. Consistency is key and that is exactly what Thompson brings to the table. Expect to hear her name a lot this upcoming season.
Mike: Senior Alyssa White stands out in her fourth season with the Red Foxes. In addition to notching 22 points in just five matches, the middle hitter’s 17 kills sit third on the team, amidst a strong start to her fourth season in Poughkeepsie.
5th-year Jamison White also plays a pivotal role as the Red Fox’s setter, standing out to me thus far. White joined Marist this offseason after four seasons with the University of New Hampshire, and she continues to perform. Throughout the first six matches, White sits tied for first amongst right-side hitters in kills. She also leads the team in digs and assists, by far, with 101.
With plenty of liberos set to compete for the starting spot, who do you anticipate to come out and earn the job?
Ben: Katherine Thompson. The sophomore won the starting job last season, and the true shuffling of the position started when she missed a few matches due to injury; when she was healthy, she saw consistent time at the position. So far, it seems to be Thompson’s job to lose. The interesting decision for Byron will be deciding who will be the other libero dressed in each set, a new rule for the Marist coaching staff to toy with.
I think sophomore Claudia Kasperski is an intriguing option for Marist as the second libero, potentially even as the primary libero. Kasperski only played in three matches last year as a freshman but has played in all but one set so far this season, recording 13 digs and two assists.
Nate: Since the start of the Marist volleyball season, sophomore Katherine Thompson has been taking a lot of reps at libero and it looks like she’s on her way to earning the starting job. Thompson played in 22 matches last year and appeared in 80 sets last year. Thompson already has 23 digs this year through six matches which is third on the team and leads the team with 2.09 digs per set.
Tyler: This is a problem that bodes wll for head coach Sean Bryon, as many talented players are competing for a single spot. In terms of who I predict will start, I believe it will be sophomore Katherine Thompson. Thompson attended Arrowhead High School, where she earned an honorable mention for all-state in Wisconsin. Additionally, she played club volleyball at a high level. With that experience, combined with an outstanding freshman season that included 242 digs and 62 assists, I believe she will not only secure the position but also become a key factor in the success of the Red Foxes.
Mike: Sophomore Katherine Thompson will compete with two fellow sophomores and fifth-year Lillian Thomas for the starting role at Libero, and I anticipate her to win the position battle. Although Thompson’s 11 sets played only rank third amongst the position, she outranks her competition statistically. The libero sits second on the team in assists with eight, tied for second in service aces with two and third in digs with 23.
The Wisconsin native also put together an impressive freshman campaign, tallying 40 assists and 174 digs in 59 sets played. Therefore, I anticipate the Red Foxes to name Thompson to the starting libero position before beginning MAAC play on September 28th.
Will the Red Foxes make the MAAC Tournament? If so, how far will they go?
Ben: Marist will be on the verge of the MAAC playoff picture this year, but I do think they will find their way in as either the fourth or fifth seed. In my opinion, this will benefit the Red Foxes, as they will enter the postseason with little expectations, unlike the previous few years. Marist will finally get over the first match hump, winning in the quarterfinal before losing to one of the MAAC powerhouses, Quinnipiac or Fairfield, in the second round.
Nate: The Red Foxes will find their way into the MAAC tournament as a 5th or 6th seed but I do not see them going very far. After losing star players Sasha Van Der Merwe and Jordan Newblatt, Marist has done a good job rebuilding, finding players like Miller and Dasic.
With teams like Fairfield, Quinnipiac and Rider proving themselves last year, it will be very challenging for Marist to finish above 4th. The Foxes are also young so without a lot of experience it will be challenging for them to perform well in the playoffs.
Tyler: The future of Marist volleyball looks extremely promising. However, I am uncertain if qualifying for the MAAC tournament is a realistic expectation this year, given the team’s youth. While it is possible that several freshmen and sophomores could step up and lead the team on a deep run, the lack of experience may also prove to be a challenge for the Red Foxes.
Another factor to consider is the strength of Marist’s competition. Fairfield and Quinnipiac stand out with the talent they have returning. Additionally, Sacred Heart, Rider, and Niagara are other programs expecting strong performances this year
As the saying goes, to be the best, you have to beat the best. The Red Foxes will be tested this year against strong and experienced teams. While I believe they have a chance to sneak into the MAAC tournament, I am not confident they have the experience needed to overcome some of the premier teams in the conference.
Mike: Even with their slow start to the season, I predict the Red Foxes to qualify for the MAAC Tournament as the no. 6 or no. 7 seed. Marist will miss their five key players from last season, but anyone can make a run in the MAAC this year. Likely facing a top opponent in the playoffs, such as Fairfield or Quinnipiac, the Red Foxes will presumably face low expectations. However, I see their loss of key players severely hurting them in the postseason. Thus, I suspect one of these top opponents to hand Marist their 4th consecutive first-round exit.
Edited by Marley Pope and Luke Sassa
Graphic by Victoria Guardino; Photos from Marist Athletics
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