ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women's volleyball team won a second consecutive PSAC Tournament championship in 2023, and the Golden Knights return many key players for the 2024 season.
 
Coach Matt Darling's team was selected as the preseason favorite in the PSAC Western Division, so the Golden Knights will be a target for every conference team they face. Gannon won the PSAC West regular-season title for the second year in a row with a 14-2 record. The Golden Knights then earned the right to host the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional before losing in the second round to IUP and finishing with a 27-5 record.
 
The good news for Darling is that four players return who have been named All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Senior outside hitter Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) leads that group after being named an AVCA Third Team All-American in 2023. Blevins, who transferred from Findlay before the 2023 season, is now a three-time AVCA All-American.
 
Senior libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) and senior right side Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) also returned after being named AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans. Setter Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian), who battled an injury in 2023, was an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American in 2022.
 
Also returning are senior middle blocker Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East) and sophomore middle blocker Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area), who anchor Gannon's talented front line. Several upperclassmen and sophomores also look to make an impact this season, along with three freshmen.
 
"The returning pieces certainly give us that experience," Darling said. "We have athletes on this roster who have played as starters in the Final Four and Elite Eight, so you really want to have those kids and that experience when it comes time to compete at the end of the season."
 
The Golden Knights are 228-39 since 2016 with three PSAC titles, two Elite Eight appearances, and two trips to the Final Four.
 
Gannon will open the season with a rugged trip to Colorado where they will play four matches in two days, including two against teams that are ranked among the Top 20 in the AVCA poll: No. 5 Concordia St. Paul (Minn.) and No. 17 Colorado Mesa. The Knights will also face host Colorado School of Mines and Michigan Tech. Gannon was not ranked in the opening Top 25, but the Golden Knights did receive 29 ballot points in the AVCA Division II poll.

Gannon opens against Colorado Mesa on Friday afternoon.

The GU volleyball team will play its 2024 home games at Cathedral Prep's Hagerty Family Events Center as renovations continue at the Highmark Events Center. 
 
 


2023 record: 27-5
2023 PSAC west record: 14-2 (First place)
 

2023 postseason:

PSAC Tournament
Quarterfinals: def. Pitt-Johnstown 3-0
Semifinals: def. East Stroudsburg 3-2
Championship: def. Clarion 3-2 (Second title in a row)
 
NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional
Quarterfinals: def. West Liberty 3-0
Semifinals: lost to Indiana (Pa.) 3-2
 

Head coach:

Matt Darling, 18th season, 406-143 record: In his 17th season in 2023, Darling led Gannon to its fourth PSAC championship during his tenure. He also guided the Golden Knights to their 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance (not including the pandemic season when there was no NCAA tourney).
Already the program's all-time leader in coaching wins, Darling became the first GU volleyball coach to reach 400 wins when Gannon defeated Pitt-Johnstown on Nov. 3, 2023. He is a five-time PSAC Coach of the Year and a two-time AVCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
 

Key returnees:

Senior outside hitter Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union): Blevins had a big season in her first year with the Golden Knights as she became a three-time AVCA All-American. She was picked to the third team after leading Gannon with 502 kills and 554 points in 2023. Including her first two seasons at the University of Findlay, Blevins has 1,392 career kills and 1,510 points.

Senior libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell): The 2023 AVCA All-American already has established herself as one of the finest defensive players in program history as she ranks No. 4 with 1,810 career digs. She is only 193 digs behind career leader Taryn Graham (2,003 digs, 2011-14). After recording 612 digs in 2023, Hall is the only player in Gannon history with at least 600 digs in two seasons and the second player with at least 500 digs in three seasons.

Senior right side Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge): She was a standout performer at the net, earning AVCA All-America honors. Koch ranked second on the team with 349 kills and 408.5 points in 2023. Also a defensive force, she tied for second with 95 total blocks. She had three 20-kill efforts in the last nine matches, including 20 against IUP in the Atlantic Regional semifinals.

Junior setter Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian): Through her first two seasons, Arslan has moved into 10th place on Gannon's career list with 1,830 assists. After being named an AVCA All-American as a freshman, she missed a good portion of the 2023 season with an injury. She finished second on the team with 586 assists and should be ready for a return to her 2022 form in 2024.
 
Senior middle blocker Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East): She had a big season in the middle of Gannon's front line in 2023. Sorenson placed fourth on the team with career highs of 183 kills and 245 points. ... Sorenson also tied for second with 95 total blocks. She was very consistent, recording at least three total blocks in 20 matches, including 13 of Gannon's final 14 matches.
 

Season opener:

Friday, Sept. 6, 1 p.m.: vs. No. 17 Colorado Mesa in opener of Oredigger Volleyball Classic (hosted by Colorado School of Mines)
 
Home opener:

Sept. 11, 6 p.m.: vs. Ashland, at Hagerty Family Events Center