SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team commences its 2025 season this weekend with four matches over two days at the Fairmont State Classic.
 
FSU CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday: vs. Elizabeth City State (3 p.m.)
Friday: vs. UVa.-Wise (7 p.m.)
Saturday: vs. Palm Beach Atlantic (2 p.m.)
Saturday: at Fairmont State (6 p.m.)
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live video and in-match statistics will be generously provided free of charge all weekend by the Fairmont State Athletic Communications office. Links to live coverage options for every match can be found below.
 
• Live Stats
• Live Video
• X (formerly Twitter)  |  In-game updates and highlights
 
MATCH 1 DETAILS
Opponent: Elizabeth City State
Date: Friday – 3 p.m.
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Venue: Joe Retton Arena
All-Time Series: SRU leads 4-0
Last Played: Sept. 1, 2023 (SRU won 3-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Slippery Rock is a perfect 4-0 all-time against Elizabeth City State with its most recent win in the series coming in the form of a 25-23, 25-14, 27-25 sweep of the Vikings at the 2023 FSU Classic. SRU posted a .227 team attack percentage in the win while being led by Erica Selfridge's 12-kill, 19-dig double-double.
 
Three current Rock athletes saw playing time in the victory with Jaeden Yost collecting a 24-assist, 10-dig double-double of her own while Callie Chevalier and Lauren VonderHaar tallied seven kills apiece.  

MATCH 2 DETAILS
Opponent: UVa.-Wise
Date: Friday – 7 p.m.
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Venue: Joe Retton Arena
All-Time Series: SRU leads 4-0
Last Played: Sept. 17, 2016 (SRU won 3-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY
While The Rock holds a flawless 4-0 record against UVa.-Wise all-time, the last time SRU and the Cavaliers met – a 2016 3-0 SRU win in West Liberty, West Virginia – the oldest current athletes on both rosters were barely in junior high school let alone on their respective college teams.
 
MATCH 3 DETAILS
Opponent: Palm Beach Atlantic
Date: Saturday – 2 p.m.
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Venue: Joe Retton Arena
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Last Played: N/A
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's match will be the first between The Rock and Palm Beach Atlantic.
 
MATCH 4 DETAILS
Opponent: Fairmont State
Date: Saturday – 6 p.m.
Location: Fairmont, West Virginia
Venue: Joe Retton Arena
All-Time Series: SRU leads 22-12
Last Played: Sept. 21, 2024 (SRU won 3-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Two Atlantic Region foes, The Rock and Falcons have met annually since 2015 including two-match meetings in each of the past four seasons. Following a pair of four-set victories in 2024, SRU has now taken the last four matches in the series for an overall record of 22-12 against FSU.
 
Top SRU Performers vs. FSU
(Per Match Average)
Callie Chevalier: 11.4 Kills, .165%, 9.8 Digs, 3.2 Blocks (5 matches)
Lauren VonderHaar: 5.0 Blocks, 3.8 Kills, .233% (5 matches)
Jaeden Yost: 21.6 Assists, 2.5 Aces, 8.7 Digs (6 matches)
Paityn Krause: 13.0 Assists, 4.5 Digs (2 matches)
Kara Pasquale: 7.0 Digs, 2.0 Aces (2 matches)

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 12-14
2024 Home Record: 4-3
2024 Away Record: 3-8
2024 Neutral Site Record: 5-3
PSAC West Preseason Poll: Seventh
Head Coach: Dylan Lasher | First season at SRU (0-0) | Fifth overall (45-61)
 
TOP ROCK RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Callie Chevalier (210 kills / .177), Lauren VonderHaar (111 kills / .221)
ASSISTS: Jaeden Yost (550 / 5.67 per set)
ACES: Yost (40), Kara Pasquale (26)
DIGS: Yost (218 / 2.25 per set), Pasquale (169 / 1.90 per set)
BLOCKS: VonderHaar (122), Chevalier (42)

SRU BY THE NUMBERS
• 3: Consecutive season-opening wins.
• 6-2: The Rock's record when competing at the FSU Classic over the last two years.
• 3: Number of starters returning for The Rock from 2024.
• 50%: Percentage of SRU's 2025 roster yet to appear in a collegiate match.   
• 3rd: Lauren VonderHaar's rank among active Atlantic Region (PSAC + MEC + CIAA) athletes in career blocks.

COMING OUT STRONG
Slippery Rock is 10-1 in its season-opening match dating back to the 2013 campaign. Over the last 11 completed seasons, SRU has exited its opening weekend with a winning record seven times, a .500 mark in three other years and a losing mark just once.
 
A year ago, SRU defeated Virginia Union in three sets in its season-opener to spur on a 3-1 showing overall at the Fairmont State Classic.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Slippery Rock has garnered 56 of its last 97 wins (57.7 percent) dating back to the 2015 season against non-conference foes. The Rock were a healthy 7-5 outside of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in 2024.
 
COMFORTABLE AWAY FROM HOME
Of The Rock's 27 matches in 2025, 19 will occur outside of Morrow Field House. Luckily for SRU, playing away from home has not been a problem of late. Over the last three years, 25 of Slippery Rock's 32 wins have come in road / neutral site matches.
 
DÉJÀ VU WITH FSU
As has been the case for the last four years, Slippery Rock and Fairmont State will once again meet in two non-conference matches in 2025. The Rock and Falcons are yet to split a season series as FSU swept SRU in 2021 and 2022 with Slippery Rock getting revenge by way of two victories in each of the last two years.
 
GETTING GOING EARLY
Slippery Rock took the first set in 15 of its 26 matches last year.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
While the 2025 edition of Slippery Rock volleyball does feature a strong veteran presence of seniors in setter Jaeden Yost, outside hitter Callie Chevalier and middle blocker Lauren VonderHaar, only four athletes on this year's roster begin the year with more than 25 matches of collegiate experience. Of the 22 athletes suiting up for SRU in 2025, 15 are playing in their freshman or sophomore seasons of eligibility.
 
Charting The Rock Vets
Career Games Played (Starts)
Jaeden Yost: 85 (73)
Callie Chevalier: 74 (66)
Lauren VonderHaar: 68 (56)
Kaitlyn Danszczak: 26 (15)
Kara Pasquale: 24 (0)
Victoria Nalbach: 21 (2)
Paityn Krause: 20 (0)
Brooke Farrah: 19 (0)
Gwen McCarthy: 15 (5)
Arielle Walter: 15 (0)
Marley Annis: 14 (3)
Ava Haynes: 0 (0)
Addison Jones: 0 (0)

TRIO OF SENIOR MILESTONES ON DECK
The core of The Rock's in-match experience comes from its talented senior trio of Yost, Chevalier and VonderHaar: all of whom have been key contributors since their rookie seasons.
 
• The trio are already ranked among the program's all-time best in a myriad of statistical categories as Yost opens her senior year slotted ninth in program history in career assists (1,705) and 17th in aces (113) while VonderHaar is 10th in total blocks (258) and Chevalier being positioned 25th in kills (645). In addition to their lofty program rankings, all three are all closing in on impressive milestones that have been rarely seen at SRU.
 
• VonderHaar is 42 blocks shy of joining a club that currently consists of only five athletes at SRU to have compiled 300 blocks.
 
• Yost is 295 assists away from becoming the eighth athlete in program history to record 2,000 career assists.
 
• Chevalier needs 55 kills to become one of 19 athletes in program history to have reached the 700-kill threshold.
 
• When the trio reach their respective milestones, it will mark just the third time in program history that Slippery Rock has had three active athletes playing when one has 700 kills, one has 300 blocks and one has 2,000 assists. The previous two times came in 1994 (Nikki St. Antoine-K, Bev Rea-Ast., Laurie Flynn-Blk.) and 2010 (Kaylee Smith-K, Anna Bixler-Ast., Keira Peoples-Blk.).
 
TOP RETURNING UPPERCLASSMEN
• VonderHaar has firmly established herself as one of the top middle blockers in the Atlantic Region over the last two years. One of three athletes to start all 26 matches a season ago, VonderHaar recorded 122 blocks (41 solo / 81 assisted) defensively in addition to 111 kills via a .221 attack percentage on offense. She closed 2024 ranked 22nd in the nation, and fourth in the PSAC, in blocks per sets (1.26).
 
• Yost has served as Slippery Rock's lead setter in each of the last three seasons. Along with VonderHaar and the now-graduated Selfridge, Yost was one of three Rock athletes to start every match a season ago. In addition to delivering 550 assists (5.67 per set), Yost also compiled a team-high 40 aces and ranked third in digs with 218 (2.25 per set).
 
• Chevalier has displayed the ability to take over a match on any given night as evidenced by her 28 career double-digit kill performances. Last season, Chevalier went for 210 kills in 22 matches (79 sets) on a .177 attack percentage to go with 42 blocks.
 
• After seeing limited playing time as rookies in 2023 the junior trio of opposite / outside Hitter Kaitlyn Danszczak, defensive specialist / setter Brooke Farrah and middle blocker / opposite Victoria Nalbach all saw a serious uptick in playing time a season ago.
 
• Danszczak started 14 matches while making 22 appearances en route to finishing the season with 104 kills and 24 blocks. Nalbach added 20 blocks in 18 matches and Farrah split time as The Rock's second setter with 159 assists and nine aces in 19 contests.

NOT THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK ANYMORE
• Outside Hitter / defensive specialist / libero Marley Annis, libero Kara Pasquale, setter Paityn Krause and defensive specialist / outside hitter Gwen McCarthy all saw playing time as rookies.
 
•  As a freshman, Pasquale appeared in 24 of The Rock's 26 matches while leading all Rock rookies in sets played (89). She concluded the year ranked third on the team overall in aces (26) and fourth in digs (169 / 1.90).
 
•  Krause split time as Slippery Rock's second setter during her rookie campaign on the way to recording 234 assists (3.97), 115 digs (1.95) and 11 aces across 20 matches.
 
•  As outsides a season ago, opportunities were scarce for Annis and McCarthy behind the veteran quartet of Chelsie Wheeler, Selfridge, Chevalier and Danszczak. The pair combined to provide SRU with 60 kills, seven aces and 10 blocks with McCarthy making 15 appearances and Annis 14.
 
FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
The Rock's 2025 freshman class is made up of nine athletes covering the entire court. The new enrollees come from three states in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.
 
2025 SRU Freshman Class
Name-Position-Hometown (in Pennsylvania unless noted)
Hayden Deming – Outside Hitter / Opposite – Mattawan, Michigan
Ashley Deniker – Middle Blocker – Greensburg
Alayna Esselink – Middle Blocker – Richmond, Michigan
Abby Kolcum – Setter – Chardon, Ohio        
Emry Rumbaugh – Outside Hitter / Opposite – Kittanning
Leah Schreckengost – Libero / Defensive Specialist – Freeport
Cassidy Stancombe – Libero / Defensive Specialist – Johnstown    
Sidney Stevenson – Libero – Pittsburgh
Addie Varnish – Setter – Carnegie

LASHER SET FOR YEAR 1
First-year head coach Dylan Lasher was chosen as the next leader of the Slippery Rock volleyball program on March 28, 2025. Lasher is the 13th head coach in SRU varsity volleyball history.
 
Lasher comes to Slippery Rock after most recently serving as the head coach of both the women's and men's volleyball teams at Thiel College. He has also been a head coach at both Chatham and Millikin. Overall, he has 10 seasons of collegiate head coach experience (women's + men's).
 
Lasher's coaching resume includes being named the Presidents' Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on two occasions – in 2017 as the women's coach at Chatham and in 2025 as the men's coach at Thiel.
 
The Ford City, Pennsylvania native served five seasons as the head men's volleyball coach at Thiel and added the role of head women's coach prior to the 2024 fall season. He inherited a women's program that went 3-22 in 2023 and immediately made it a contender in his first full season with the squad by guiding the Tomcats to a 17-9 record in 2024.
 
The 14-win improvement from 2023 to 2024 was the second-best year-to-year improvement among all 419 NCAA Division III women's volleyball programs that fall.
 
Lasher rounded out his coaching staff over the summer with the addition of assistant Raquel McDonald. A familiar face to Lasher, McDonald comes to The Rock after spending two successful seasons at Thiel where she assisted in all facets of the men's and women's volleyball programs.

TOP ACTIVE STREAKS
Consecutive Starts: VonderHaar (55), Yost (26), Callie Chevalier (7)
Matches Played: Jaeden Yost (85), Lauren VonderHaar (55), Kara Pasquale (24)
Double-Doubles:
Matches With at least 10 Kills: N/A
Matches With at least 20 Assists: Yost (2), Paityn Krause (1)
Matches With at least 10 Digs: N/A
Matches With at least 2 Blocks: VonderHaar (17)
Matches With at least 1 Ace: Yost (10)

SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES
Key Losses (2024 stats)
Erica Selfridge: 312 Kills, 36 Aces, 318 Digs
Aslyn Pry: 137 Kills, 69 Blocks
Chelsie Wheeler: 180 Kills, 46 Blocks
Kate Lachendro-Biery: 505 Digs, 24 Aces

NEXT FIVE MATCHES
Sept. 12 (10 a.m.) at Malone
Sept. 12 (2:30 p.m.) vs. Bluefield State*
Sept. 13 (11:15 a.m.) vs. Illinois-Springfield*
Sept. 13 (1:30 p.m.) vs. Bloomsburg*
Sept. 19 (1 p.m.) vs. Assumption^
 
* Match played in Canton, Ohio
^ Match played in Buffalo, New York
 
RECORDS WATCH
Assists
5. Zoe Rivet (2016-19): 2,888
6. Anna Bixler (2007-10): 2,379
7. Haley Defibaugh (2014-17): 2,058
8. Missy Peretin (1993-96): 1,935
9. Jaeden Yost (Active): 1,705           
 
Blocks
5. Keira Peoples (2007-10): 304
6. Nikki St. Antoine (1993-96): 287
7. Michelle Hren (2011-14): 286
8. Shayla Ray (2015-18): 272
9. Heidi Slatcoff (1998-01): 263
10. Lauren VonderHaar (Active): 258
 
Aces
t12. Hannah McShea (2009-12): 131
t12. Jen Howser (2001-03): 131
14. Michele Ide (1999-02): 126
15. Erica Selfridge (2021-24): 121
16. Kaylee Smith (2008-11): 119
17. Jaeden Yost (Active): 113
 
Kills
20. Caroline Houston (2010-13): 684
21. Sarah Cadwallader (2008-12): 673
22. Shayla Ray (2015-18): 665
23. Sara Kirsch (2003-06): 654
24. Chelsie Wheeler (2021-24): 650
t25. Callie Chevalier (Active): 645
t25. Misy Watson (1990-93): 645

ELIZABETH CITY STATE PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 11-18
2024 Home Record: 4-1
2024 Away Record: 3-4
2024 Neutral Site Record: 4-13
CIAA Preseason Poll: Seventh
Head Coach: Rasha Gladney | First season (0-0)
 
TOP VIKING RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Clarke Blakemore (176 kills / .152), Kendall Washington (160 kills / .173)
ASSISTS: Paola Gonzalez (144 / 3.13 per set)
ACES: Andrea Rose (20), Washington (16)
DIGS: Washington (198 / 2.41 per set)
BLOCKS: Rose (91), Blakemore (68)
 
UVA-WISE PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 12-16
2024 Home Record: 9-5
2024 Away Record: 2-9
2024 Neutral Site Record: 1-2
SAC Preseason Poll: Eighth
Head Coach: Alyssa Hanley | Fourth season at Wise (27-51) | Eighth overall (48-161)
 
TOP CAVALIERS RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Riley Brandon (240 kills / .194), Serina Petersen (157 kills / .163)
ASSISTS: Piper Suddeth (473 / 4.93 per set)
ACES: Abigail Curtis (26), Suddeth (25)
DIGS: Curtis (495 / 5.00 per set)
BLOCKS: Petersen (73), Brandon (51)

PALM BEACH ATLANTIC PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 8-22
2024 Home Record: 2-11
2024 Away Record: 2-9
2024 Neutral Site Record: 4-2
SSC Preseason Poll: 10th
Head Coach: Jeff Huebner | Second season at PBU (8-22) | 10th season overall (108-129)
 
TOP SAILFISH RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Sydney Corbett (245 kills / .110), Harper Stokes (157 kills / .256)
ASSISTS: Savanna Rogers (160 / 1.51 per set)
ACES: Rogers (28), Corbett (26)
DIGS: Rogers (283 / 2.67 per set)
BLOCKS: Stokes (116), Kelsey Rogers (78)
 
FAIRMONT STATE PRIMER
Roster: Link
2024 Final Stats: Link
2024 Record: 18-14
2024 Home Record: 12-3
2024 Away Record: 3-7
2024 Neutral Site Record: 3-4
MEC North Preseason Poll: Second
Head Coach: Travis Hinkle | Fifth season at FSU (86-45) | Eighth overall (129-81)
 
TOP FALCON RETURNERS (2024 stats)
ATTACK: Joey Borelle (417 kills / .232), Baylie Ostvig (413 kills / .198)
ASSISTS: Kelsie Dangerfield (782 / 6.41 per set)
ACES: Josie Skinn (44), Borelle (25)
DIGS: Skinn (656 / 5.38 per set)
BLOCKS: Natalie Zemba (106), Gabi Smith (75)

UP NEXT
Slippery Rock continues non-conference competition with four matches Sept. 12-13 at the Hall of Fame City Challenge.




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