WAYNESBURG, Pa. (August 21) – The Waynesburg University volleyball team seeks a rise in the ranks of the Presidents' Athletic Conference in its second year under the leadership of head coach Hope Johnston.

The Yellow Jackets begin their 2025 season on Aug. 29 at the Saint Vincent Bearcat Challenge.

2024 Season Review: Waynesburg recorded a 7-16 overall record and tied for eighth place in the PAC standings with a 3-7 conference record. However, the Jackets' winning percentage in league play was the highest for the program since 2008.

Waynesburg notched several significant victories over PAC opponents and logged a winning record (5-3) at home last fall. The Jackets knocked off defending PAC champion Bethany twice, the first marking Johnston's first win and Waynesburg's first victory over the Bison since 2009. The Jackets toppled PAC Tournament qualifier Westminster on Senior Day, marking the first time the Jackets defeated the Titans in consecutive meetings since 2005.

In Waynesburg's home finale, the Jackets knocked off Grove City in five sets for the program's first win over the Wolverines since 2009.

"The 2024 season was a great learning experience," said Johnston. "The significant improvements and accomplishments show that the players worked hard to get better during the season."

The Jackets had two all-conference honorees for the first time since 2021 with then-senior middle hitter Madi Dayton and returning junior Krista Wilson (Greensboro, Pa. / Mapletown) receiving All-PAC Honorable Mention status.

Waynesburg bid farewell to four graduating seniors, including middle hitters Dayton and Emma Hyatt and libero Jordan Stein, who concluded her career fourth in team history with over 1,600 digs.

2025 PAC Preseason Poll: Waynesburg checked in at No. 5 in the PAC's six-team South Division Preseason Coaches' Poll.

School (first-place votes) - Points - 2024 record (conference)
1. Saint Vincent College (8) - 63 - 15-12 (8-2 PAC)
2. Washington & Jefferson College (3) - 55 - 16-13 (6-4 PAC)
3. Chatham University (1) - 47 - 12-13 (7-3 PAC)
4. Franciscan University - 33 - 13-11 (3-7 PAC)
5. Waynesburg University - 26 - 7-16 (3-7 PAC)
6. Bethany College - 22 - 8-20 (1-9 PAC)

Key Returners: The Jackets welcome back their two of their top three hitters from last season in junior right side Kristina Zadrozny (McDonald, Pa. / West Allegheny) and senior outside hitter Paige Mortimore (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brentwood). Wilson remains with the Jackets but will be unavailable for competition during the 2025 season due to injury.

"The returning players will be significant contributors on the team," said Johnston. "They will all be taking on leadership roles this year. Kristina will maintain her presence at the net and also expand her abilities on the court learning new positions in addition to right side. Paige has been named team captain for the second year in a row. Krista will be a significant leader to the large group of incoming freshmen."

Zadrozny led Waynesburg in points and kills in her sophomore season. The left-handed hitter posted 2.50 points per set and 2.26 kills per set with a team-best hitting percentage of .192. A presence at the net, she also ranked second on the roster with 31.0 blocks. Zadrozny rose to the occasion in Waynesburg's five-set triumph over Westminster with a career-high 21 kills on a .447 hitting percentage.

Mortimore ranked top-three on Waynesburg's roster in kills for the third-straight season in 2024. She was the Jackets' No. 3 hitter at 1.88 kills per set with an .089 hitting percentage. In addition to her hitting, Mortimore was third on the team in serve receptions (21) and finished with 15.0 total blocks. Mortimore turned in six matches with double-digit kills.

Senior setter Riley Ruffley (Bedford, Pa. / Bedford) led the Jackets in assists for the second-straight season with improvements across the board from the 2023 season. Ruffley averaged 4.98 assists per set and finished second on the team in aces (29) and in digs per set (2.35). Ruffley recorded four outings with at least 25 assists, had seven assist-digs double-doubles and notched a career-high 41 assists in Waynesburg's win over Westminster.

Senior defensive specialist Macee Cree (Garards Fort, Pa. / Mapletown) became a back-line contributor for the Jackets last season. She finished fourth on the team in serve receptions and digs. She notched 1.59 digs per set, 10 aces and had three games with double-digit digs.

Sophomore defensive specialist Jaina McWilliams (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Northrop) had 16 digs, four assists and four aces in her collegiate debut against Olivet but was limited to 24 sets the rest of the season due to injury.

Junior Ray Baniaga (Honolulu, Hawaii / Sacred Hearts) appeared as a setter and a defensive specialist last fall. She recorded 48 digs, 42 assists and 41 serve receptions in 29 sets.

Junior defensive specialist Peyton Kuhns (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) played in 14 sets and notched 13 receptions, seven digs and one ace.

Senior outside hitter Emily Stutzman (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) appeared in five sets while graduate Asia Revak (Masontown, Pa. / Albert Gallatin) competed in four.

Newcomers: The Jackets add a dozen freshmen and two transfers for the 2025 season. Graduate transfer Larissa Howe (Tomball, Texas / Tomball) notched 1.32 kills per set last season at NCAA Division II Glenville State. Junior Audrey Work (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin) joins the Jackets after two seasons at La Roche, where she averaged 1.05 kills per set last year.

"Waynesburg's freshman class looks to make a significant contribution in its first season as Jackets," said Johnston. "This is a strong group of newcomers that will make up half of the players on the roster. We have new players in all positions and they are expected to make waves on the team this year and hopefully in the PAC."

Looking at the Schedule: With the addition of Hiram as a full-time member in the PAC, the conference has moved to a divisional scheduling model for the 2025 season. The league has two six-team divisions with Waynesburg playing in the PAC South Division.

The Jackets will play home-and-home conference matches against other PAC South Division members Bethany, Chatham, Franciscan, Saint Vincent and Washington & Jefferson. Waynesburg will play PAC North Division members Allegheny, Geneva, Grove City, Hiram, Thiel and Westminster once. All league games will count in the conference standings with the top four teams in each division advancing to the PAC Tournament.

Waynesburg plays early-season tournaments at Saint Vincent and Allegheny before beginning PAC play at home against Chatham on Sept. 17.

Last Word: "This team is full of positivity and ready to show the PAC who the new generation of Waynesburg Volleyball is," said Johnston. "With a young team, this will be a growing season. We are determined to improve and rise in the PAC ranks."