Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (8/7/2025) – Now, less than one month from the first competition of 2025, Gwynedd Mercy University newly appointed Head Women's Volleyball Coach Amber Medycki is pleased to officially introduce the Griffins 2025 opponents. "I am beyond excited for our upcoming season! We play a competitive and balanced schedule that I think will showcase our talents extraordinarily." Coach Medycki continued, "With as many new faces as returning ones, this season is sure to bring a new energy and feel to the Gwynedd Mercy University women's volleyball program. As always, it's a great day to be a Griffin!" Medycki was named Gwynedd Mercy University's Head Men's and Women's Volleyball Coach during the summer of 2025; she was formerly the head women's volleyball coach at Bryn Athyn College (2022-2024).
 
Under Head Coach Lauren Yancer '21, Gwynedd Mercy University finished 2024 with a 17-11 overall record, earning the program's highest win-total since the 2006 campaign, when the Red and Gold reached the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) Semifinals with a 18-8 overall record and a 9-2 league standing. The Griffins went on to earn the #4 seed in the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Championship Tournament with a 3-3 league record; there, the Griffins enjoyed a 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-15, 16-25) First Round triumph over Pratt Institute (Nov. 12) before enduring a 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-16) semifinal loss to eventual league champion, #1 Marymount University (Nov. 14). 
 
Beyond that, 2024 was a historically significant for various individuals, especially for Bria Purnell '25, who surpassed 1,000 career kills in a September-19 match at Alvernia University (W, 3-2; 25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-13), surpassed 100 career aces in a September-28 match versus Penn State Brandywine (W, 3-1; 25-6, 24-26, 25-20, 25-16), became the program's all-time leader in kills in an October-2 match at Bryn Mawr (W, 3-0; 25-15, 26-24, 25-14), and became the program's all-time leader in points in an October-19 match versus FDU-Florham (L, 2-3; 25-19, 22-25, 13-25, 25-17, 8-15). She was among three Griffins recognized on the All-AEC Team as her First Team recognition was complimented by Second Team honors for Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) and Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.).
 
The 2025 Gwynedd Mercy University women's volleyball season begins on Saturday, August 30, when the Griffins visit Cedar Crest College for a tri-match including Delaware Valley University; the Red and Gold is scheduled to play the Aggies at 1:00 p.m. and the hosting Falcons at 3:00 p.m.
 
In 2024, Gwynedd Mercy University won a mid-October meeting with Delaware Valley University (W, 3-1; 21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21 on Oct. 17). The Griffins won a pivotal second set, 25-19, and fended off the Aggies in the third set, 25-23, and fourth set, 25-21, for a thrilling conclusion. Purnell triggered the Griffin mojo, as she scored 23.0 points (20 kills, 3 aces), hit .204 (20K-9E-54TA), and dug 15 balls in the match. Gaston aided the triumph with two kills, 47 assists, three aces, a block assist, and 11 digs. Gwynedd Mercy University is 6-6 all-time against Delaware Valley University.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University got revenge for a pair of 2023 losses as they took Cedar Crest College down by a 3-1 (25-21, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20) final in 2024 (Sept. 25). The Griffins improved upon a 25-21 first-set win with a 25-16 victory in the second set. Following a third-set setback, 25-19, the Red and Gold recovered with a 25-20 conclusion. Purnell scored a team-high 20.5 points with 18 kills, an ace, a solo block, and a block assist, while Gaston hoisted 38 assists on top of two kills and a pair of block assists. Gwynedd Mercy University is 16-10 all-time against Cedar Crest College.
 
The Griffins follow the Cedar Crest College Tri-Match with home games versus York College of Pennsylvania (Sept. 3, 6:00 p.m.), Penn State Abington (Sept. 4, 6:00 p.m.), and Alvernia University (Sept. 11, 6:00 p.m.).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University last played the Spartans in 2005 (L, 2-3; 30-27, 27-30, 30-16, 23-30, 10-15); York College is 2-0 all-time against the Griffins as they also won a 2003 (L, 0-3 on Sept. 20) meeting.
 
Contrastingly, the Abington Nittany Lions and the Golden Wolves were both on the Red and Gold's 2024 schedule. Gwynedd Mercy University lost to Penn State Abington by a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-22 on Sept. 4) final despite receiving a team-high 11.5 points (10 kills, 1 ace, 1 block assist) from Etter, as well as, 23-assist, 19-dig double-double from Gaston. Later in the September, the Griffins used milestone performances from Purnell and Gaston to power a 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-13 on Sept. 19) victory at Alvernia University. Purnell totaled 22 kills on a .210 (22K-9E-62TA) hitting percentage to eclipse the 1,000-kill plateau. Similarly, Gaston totaled 41 assists and reached 100 career aces with some opening set marksmanship. Gwynedd Mercy University will look to take the upper hand in their 6-6 all-time mark with Penn State Abington. Meanwhile, the Griffins are 8-12 all-time against Alvernia University.
 
The Red and Gold's September closes out with a September-17 (7:00 p.m.) contest at Penn State Brandywine, a September-19 (6:00 p.m.) match versus Wentworth Institute of Technology followed by a road trip to Cairn University. The last time the Red and Gold battled the Highlanders was 2023 after Gwynedd Mercy fell to Cairn 0-3 (20-25, 20-25, 19-25). The Griffins return back to the Griffin Complex hosting a tri-match with Ursinus College (Sept. 27, 11:00 a.m.) and Arcadia University (Sept. 27, 3:00 p.m.). The Griffins will meet the Leopards for the first time in 2025; Wentworth IT was 18-11 overall and 7-2 as the runner-up in the Conference of New England.

The Griffins used a 9-0 opening run to fuel a 25-6 win if the first set of their 2024 meeting with the Brandywine Nittany Lions. Despite a 26-24 second-set setback, the Red and Gold finished off Penn State Brandywine with succeeding wins of 25-20 and 25-16; 3-1. Purnell reached 100 career aces with her second of the match, while Gaston contributed three kills, 38 assists, a season-high six aces, a solo block, and 10 digs to the victory.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University played Ursinus College to a 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-21) loss in 2023 (Nov. 4) and holds a 3-6 all-time record against the Bears. Meanwhile, the Red and Gold faced Arcadia University in their 2024 season opener. Purnell and Etter led the Griffins effort in the Knights' 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-15) victory; the former totaled a team-high 10 points (6 kills, 4 aces), while the latter totaled 9.0 points with a team-high nine kills. Gwynedd Mercy University is 6-10 all-time against Arcadia University.
 
The Griffins find themselves on the road for much of October as they visit Albright College on October 2 (7:00 p.m.), and host Rutgers-Camden for a Side-Out Foundation Dig Pink game on October 9 (6:00 p.m.), before an October-11 (11:00 a.m./1:00 p.m.) tri-match at Marywood University and an October-16 (7:00 p.m.) match at Widener University.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University scored a 25-20 win in the opening set, but after a 25-17 second-set loss the Griffins needed scores of 25-19 and 25-22 to send Albright College home empty handed 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-19, 25-22) in 2024. Purnell (13.0 points; 13 kills) and Etter (11.0, 11 kills) combined for 24.0 points on 24 combined kills, while Gaston directed play with 36 assists and five digs. Gwynedd Mercy University is 6-12 all-time against the Lions.
 
After briefly trailing 2-1, the Griffins won the fourth set (25-16) of their 2024 (Oct. 10) match with Rutgers-Camden with 14 straight points on the service of Annalise Kuppel (Estell Manor, N.J.). Gwynedd Mercy University, then hit .700 (7K-0E-10TA) in an error-less fifth set to complete their 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 15-3) comeback. Etter scored a career-high 26 kills, Purnell offered her fourth match of 20 kills or more with 21 successful spikes, and Gaston recorded a career - and program – record, 58 assists. Gwynedd Mercy University is 4-13 all-time against the Scarlet Raptors.
 
In addition to opening their AEC schedule with a 11:00 a.m. match against host Marywood University, Gwynedd Mercy University is also scheduled to face Rutgers-Newark (1:00 p.m.) in their October-11 tri-match.
 
The 2024 (Nov. 6) match with Marywood University was a roller coaster affair as Gwynedd Mercy University won the first (25-15) and third (25-23) sets only to be upended by the Pacers in a 3-2 (25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 19-25, 12-15) final. Prior to the match, the Griffins honored senior middle blocker Lexi Lane (Frederick, Colo.) and Purnell for their contributions to the women's volleyball program; Lane totaled a season high 11.5 points (6 kills, 3 aces, 2 solo blocks, 1 block assist), while Purnell finished with 14.5 points (11 kills, 3 aces, 1 block assist). But it was Pugh who led the Red and Gold with a career-high 16 kills and 18 digs. Gwynedd Mercy University totaled a season-high 15 aces in the match. They are 10-21 all-time against Marywood University.

The Griffins faced Rutgers-Newark in tri-match format in 2024 (Oct. 19), as the Red and Gold recovered from a 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-13, 17-25, 15-8) loss to Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) - Florham with a 3-0 (31-29, 25-22, 25-20) victory over the hosting Scarlet Raiders. After surpassing Hillary Tubbs '06 (1,348.5 points) for the Red and Gold's all-time points mark, Purnell went for a team-high 18.5 points against the Scarlet Raiders with 18 kills and a block assist. Etter also recorded 15.0 points in the match with 12 kills and three aces. The victory improved Gwynedd Mercy University's all-time record versus Rutgers-Newark to 3-1.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University used the boost from a pre-match milestone recognition to score a 25-20 win in the first set of their 2024 (Oct. 3) match versus Widener University. Unfortunately, the spur lost its effect in the later sets as the Pride evened the affair with a gradual 25-21 win in the second set, won a set of runs in the third; 25-19, and finished the Red and Gold off with some drama in the fourth set; 25-22. Purnell finished with 21 points on 20 kills and an ace, while Pugh contributed 12.5 points with 11 kills, an ace, and a block assist. The Griffins are 1-9 all-time against the Pride.
 
The Red and Gold then makes a quick return to conference play with an October-18 (1:00 p.m.), Senior Day match versus Centenary University (N.J.); prior to play, Gwynedd Mercy University will recognize Gaston, Pugh, Amanda Lopez (Houston, Texas), and Samantha Peralte (Morrisville, Pa.) for their contributions to the women's volleyball program. In 2024 (Oct. 16), the Griffins made short work of the Cyclones as they weathered the storm in a 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-14) final that saw the Red and Gold hit .283 (38K-10E-99TA), score eight aces, and combine for two blocks; 48.0 points. Purnell scored a team-high 15.0 points of that team total with 13 kills and a pair of aces. She was joined in double-digit points by Etter, who complimented her 11 kills with a dozen (12) digs. All-time, the Red and Gold is 13-4 against Centenary University (N.J.).
 
0-5 all-time against Lancaster Bible College, Gwynedd Mercy University will look to capture their first victory over the Chargers in an Otober-22 (1:00 p.m.) road match. The Griffins last played Lancaster Bible College in 2023 (Sept. 14), when they defeated the Red and Gold by a 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-14) final. The 2024 Chargers were 26-10 overall and 9-1 on their way to a United East Championship, National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Mideast Regional Championship, and NCCAA Division I National Championship Tournament appearances.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University checks another AEC opponent off their list when they visit Neumann University for an October-25 tri-match with the Knights (10:00 a.m.) and King's College (Pa.).  
 
The Griffins were only able to score in the third set, 25-18, of their 2024 (Oct. 12) meeting with the AEC Runner-Up; 3-1 (25-20, 25-15, 18-25, 25-19). Purnell totaled 13 kills, four aces, and a pair of block assists in an 18-point performance, while Gaston offered 26 assists and three aces against Neumann University. Gwynedd Mercy University is 5-23 all-time against the Knights.

Meanwhile, the Red and Gold is 1-9 all-time against King's College (Pa.); their only victory came in the most recent meeting – November 4, 2023 - as the Griffins celebrated Gaston's 1,000^th career assist with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-21) victory over the Monarchs. King's College (Pa.) was 18-10 overall and 1-6 in the MAC Freedom last season.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University concludes their October dates on the 29^th with a 6:00 p.m. match at 2024 AEC Champion, Marymount University. The Griffins hit well - .222 (10K-4E-27TA) - in the second set of their 2024 meeting. They also scored three aces and got a nice block from Lane and Gaston, but could not keep up with the Saints in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-15) conclusion. Etter led the Griffins offensively with nine points on nine kills. The Red and Gold is still searching for their first win against the Saints as Marymount University owns a 7-0 all-time record against Gwynedd Mercy University.
 
The Griffins are 2-1 all-time against their newest AEC rival; Saint Elizabeth University. They last met the Eagles in 2023, when they grabbed the edge in the all-time series with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-12) win. Saint Elizabeth University was 11-14 overall and 4-6 in 2024, as a member of the United East Conference. They will serve as the first of two AEC matches that kickoff the final month of the regular season as Gwynedd Mercy University visits the Eagles on November 1 (12:00 p.m.) and 2024 AEC addition, Pratt Institute on November 5 (7:00 p.m.).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University scored their second AEC victory of 2024 (Oct. 30) with a 3-0 (25-9, 25-22, 25-15) decision over the Cannoneers. Gaston served the Griffins to a 6-0 head start in a dominant 25-9 first-set win. In the second set, the Red and Gold sported a 24-15 lead before eventually ending a seven-point Pratt Institute rally; 25-22. Gwynedd Mercy University sought the sweep from the start of the third set, pursued it with a 7-3 start, and a captured it with a 25-15 conclusion. Gaston was one of two Griffins with four aces as the Red and Gold marked 14 points on the serve. Gwynedd Mercy University is 2-1 all-time against the Cannoneers.
 
Moravian University is scheduled as Gwynedd Mercy University's final non-conference opponent of the regular season as the Greyhounds visit the Athletic Complex on November 6 (6:00 p.m.). The Red and Gold traveled to Moravian University in 2024 (Sept. 14) for an early-season tri-match. They got out to an early 6-0 lead and won the opening set 25-20 thanks to a .533 (18K-2E-30TA) hitting percentage. Unfortunately, the Greyhound defense limited the Griffin hitting to .182 (13K-7E-33TA), -.054 (7K-9E-37TA), .097 (7K-4E-31TA), and .158 (4K-1E-19TA) performances over the next four sets of a 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-12, 15-9) final. Gaston headlined the Red and Gold efforts with eight points (1 kill, 5 aces, 1 solo block, 2 block assists), 41 assists, and a dozen digs. All-time, Gwynedd Mercy University remains winless – 0-14 – against Moravian University.
 
The 2025 regular season comes to a close on Saturday, November 8, with a 11:00 a.m. match against Immaculata University. In 2024 (Nov. 2), Gwynedd Mercy University dominated the Mighty Macs in a 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 29-27) conclusion that saw Etter impress with 17 kills on a .333 (17K-4E-39TA) hitting percentage and Gaston direct play with 31 assists. The Red and Gold hit .254 (41K-11E-118TA) in the match. The Griffins are 15-11 all-time against Immaculata University.
 
The 2025 AEC Women's Volleyball Championship is scheduled for Saturday, November 15 with first-round and semifinal contests respectively scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, and Thursday, November 13.