Women's Volleyball | 8/24/2026 3:14:00 PM

The Gannon volleyball team enters the 2026 season with a blend of familiar faces and talented newcomers as the Golden Knights look to continue one of the most consistent runs of success in NCAA Division II volleyball.

After graduating just two seniors from a team that finished 27-8, won the PSAC West regular season title, captured the NCAA Atlantic Regional championship and advanced to the Elite Eight, Gannon has reloaded for another run in 2026.

The Golden Knights' 17-player roster features five seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen, providing a blend of veteran experience and young talent.

Head coach Matt Darling enters his 20th season at Gannon with a 459-159 career record. The program's all-time wins leader, Darling has guided the Golden Knights to 16 consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances, excluding the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign. Gannon has also reached the NCAA Elite Eight six times in the past eight NCAA Tournaments.

Darling enters the season after being inducted into the Erie Sports Hall of Fame in June 2026.

2025 Season Recap

A young Gannon team entered 2025 needing to replace four All-Americans from the previous season but quickly established itself as one of the top teams in the Atlantic Region.

The Golden Knights finished 27-8 overall and 13-1 in PSAC West play, capturing the division's regular season title for the ninth consecutive year. Gannon advanced to the PSAC Championship match following postseason victories over West Chester and Pitt-Johnstown.

Gannon earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Atlantic Regional and hosted the tournament for the fourth straight season. The Golden Knights defeated Fayetteville State, Pitt-Johnstown and Indiana (Pa.) to capture their sixth Atlantic Region championship and advance to the NCAA Elite Eight for the fourth time in five seasons.

The Golden Knights' season came to an end in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, S.D., with a four-set loss to eventual national runner-up Concordia-St. Paul.
 
Preseason Polls

The Golden Knights enter the season ranked No. 23 in the AVCA Division II Preseason Poll, matching their final ranking from the 2025 season. Gannon was also selected as the PSAC West preseason favorite for the fourth consecutive season.

Atwell, Wake Headline Returners

Gannon returns a pair of All-American performers in Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) and Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) to lead the Golden Knights in 2026.

Atwell earned All-PSAC West First Team and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors after finishing with 266 kills, a .329 hitting percentage and a team-high 108 total blocks. She also earned AVCA and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region honors.

Wake also earned All-PSAC West First Team and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention recognition after leading Gannon with 352 kills while adding 67 total blocks. She joined Atwell on the AVCA and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region teams.

Experience Returns Throughout Lineup

Despite the loss of starters Kasey Smith (Meadville, Pa./Villa Maria) and Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) from last year's Elite Eight roster, Gannon returns plenty of experience in 2026. The Golden Knights feature five seniors along with several underclassmen who played significant roles a season ago.

Hard-hitting senior outside hitter Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey) from Ankara, Turkey, returns after earning All-PSAC West Second Team honors in 2025. She finished fourth on the team with 260 kills while adding 42 service aces and 276 digs.

Outside hitter Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) returns after finishing second on the team with 325 kills, while libero Alexis Fowler (Cranberry Township, PA/Eden Christian Academy) led the Golden Knights with 520 digs and added 103 assists.

Both earned spots on the 2025 NCAA Atlantic Region All-Tournament Team.

Gainer Looks To Step In At Setter

The biggest change in Gannon's lineup comes at setter following the departure of Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian), the 2025 PSAC West Athlete of the Year. Arslan also earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region First Team honors during her final season.

Darling will look to junior Ava Gainer (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) to help fill the role as the Golden Knights transition to a new setter.
 
New Faces Add To Gannon's Depth

While Gannon returns nearly its entire roster, four freshmen will add another layer of talent and competition with outside hitters Gabby Beaubrun (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) and Ani Cree (Carmichaels, Pa./Waynesburg Central), libero Addi Claxon (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) and setter Val Wadas (New Braunfels, TX./New Braunfels) joining the program.

Beaubrun, an outside hitter from Lock Haven, Pa., was a four-year starter and four-time team MVP at Central Mountain High School. She earned three All-District selections, All-State honors and Co-Player of the Year recognition in 2026.

Claxon, a libero from South Webster, Ohio, finished her high school career as South Webster's all-time leader with 1,831 digs. She was a two-time District 14 Player of the Year, two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Ohio selection. Claxon is also a familiar name to Gannon Athletics, as her older sister, Bri Claxon, concluded her career with the Golden Knights' women's basketball program last season.

Cree, an outside hitter from Carmichaels, Pa., totaled more than 500 career kills at Waynesburg Central. She earned All-State and First Team All-WPIAL honors as a senior along with three First Team All-Section selections.

Wadas, a setter from New Braunfels, Texas, earned Second Team All-District honors as a senior at New Braunfels High School after totaling 645 assists, 245 digs and 51 service aces. She also received the AVCA Best and Brightest Award.

Gannon Invitational Comes To Highmark Events Center

The Golden Knights will host the Gannon Invitational on September 4-5, bringing a full weekend of volleyball to the Highmark Events Center. Wayne State (Mich.), Clarion, Malone and Eckerd will join Gannon in the Invitational.

*Fans should note that the Gannon Invitational will be a ticketed event, with each ticket valid for one day of Invitational action.

Challenging 26-Match Slate Awaits

Gannon will play a challenging 26-match schedule in 2026, including matchups with several teams that reached the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

The Golden Knights enter the season seeking their 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and third straight Atlantic Region championship.

Up Next

Gannon opens the 2026 season at the Cedarville Invitational on August 28-29, beginning with No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul in a rematch of last year's NCAA Elite Eight quarterfinal.

This marks the second straight season the Golden Knights will open the year against the nation's No. 1-ranked team.

Gannon will then face host Cedarville later that day before closing the opening weekend against No. 24 Missouri-St. Louis on August 29. Cedarville handed the Golden Knights their only home loss of the 2025 season and was picked first in the G-MAC South preseason poll.