Photo by: Kaya Wagner 2025
Volleyball culture remains strong as young team shows potential
8/26/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Like last season, the Millersville University women's volleyball team will rely on a young roster. The Marauders lost two key contributors in Taylor Welter and Caroline Halsey, but head coach Brian Smith has added eight new faces, including one junior transfer and seven freshmen who have yet to experience PSAC competition. Familiar faces return as Becca Hartranft, Sam White, and Kat Dalessio provide leadership to a young Marauder squad. With hopes of turning the page this season, Smith sat down to discuss the team's culture and what lies ahead.
How does this season's roster and team culture differ from last years?
Brian Smith (BS): We don't have a lot of dips in our culture year to year. We have a pretty solid one we follow. We try to bring in girls, obviously, to fit that culture. So there doesn't seem to be a lot of fluctuation. The changes are really kind of in the team leadership. Every group of captains have a different style of of managing the team. So I think that we'll see some slight changes there. So the struggle is always holding their teammates accountable. They're usually pretty good at holding themselves accountable because that's why they're team captains. But you know, I don't expect a big change. I mean we have a good culture, and we try to recruit players to fit that.
You lost two key blockers/attackers in Welter and Halsey last year, who do you expect to step up and fill in the gap in the front row? Any freshmen looking to step up?
BS: Certainly Taylor was an impact player at the net as a hitter and a blocker, and Caroline as well for four years. So it's always tough to lose those seniors that are making a contribution. But you know we've got players last year that had opportunities as freshmen to get a lot of playing time. The recruiting class is very strong athletically. Skill wise is pretty good as well. It's really early in preseason, so it's kind of hard to see who's going to step up. I've been pretty pleased with most of them... But we do have depth at most positions, so that's going to help out a lot.
If you could describe the team in one word, what would it be and why?
BS: I would describe the team in one word, probably by saying potential. That's probably the word that comes to mind. There is a lot of good young players. Turning them into a team quickly is going to be what is needed to have success this season. So there's a lot of potential, it's just a matter of putting those pieces together and and see what we can get out of it.
The Marauders open their 2026 season on the road against the Lightning from Goldey-Beacom on August 27, at 6 p.m.
How does this season's roster and team culture differ from last years?
Brian Smith (BS): We don't have a lot of dips in our culture year to year. We have a pretty solid one we follow. We try to bring in girls, obviously, to fit that culture. So there doesn't seem to be a lot of fluctuation. The changes are really kind of in the team leadership. Every group of captains have a different style of of managing the team. So I think that we'll see some slight changes there. So the struggle is always holding their teammates accountable. They're usually pretty good at holding themselves accountable because that's why they're team captains. But you know, I don't expect a big change. I mean we have a good culture, and we try to recruit players to fit that.
You lost two key blockers/attackers in Welter and Halsey last year, who do you expect to step up and fill in the gap in the front row? Any freshmen looking to step up?
BS: Certainly Taylor was an impact player at the net as a hitter and a blocker, and Caroline as well for four years. So it's always tough to lose those seniors that are making a contribution. But you know we've got players last year that had opportunities as freshmen to get a lot of playing time. The recruiting class is very strong athletically. Skill wise is pretty good as well. It's really early in preseason, so it's kind of hard to see who's going to step up. I've been pretty pleased with most of them... But we do have depth at most positions, so that's going to help out a lot.
If you could describe the team in one word, what would it be and why?
BS: I would describe the team in one word, probably by saying potential. That's probably the word that comes to mind. There is a lot of good young players. Turning them into a team quickly is going to be what is needed to have success this season. So there's a lot of potential, it's just a matter of putting those pieces together and and see what we can get out of it.
The Marauders open their 2026 season on the road against the Lightning from Goldey-Beacom on August 27, at 6 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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