Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (8/5/2026) – With a little less than a month on the calendar before Gwynedd Mercy University Head heads to Ursinus College for a 7:00 p.m. season opener on Tuesday, September 1, Women's Volleyball Coach Amber Medycki is pleased to preview the 2026 schedule. "We have some tough opponents on our schedule this year, but I think our team is ready for the challenge," opened Coach Medycki. "We've added some new talent and I know everyone has been working hard in the off-season. I am ready for an action-packed year!" 
 
When Gwynedd Mercy University travels to Ursinus College for the 2026 season opener, they will be looking to gain ground on a 3-7 all-time standing against the Bears. Ursinus College has been victorious in their last six meetings with the Griffins, including a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-16) win in 2025 (Sept. 27). Sophomore pin hitter Annalise Kuppel (Estell Manor, N.J.) (2 kills, 22 attempts) and junior outside hitter Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.) (7, 21) served as the primary targets for senior setter Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) (18 assists) in the opening contest of their home tri-match.
 
Next, the Red and Gold travel to King's College (Pa.) for a September-4 tri-match; the Griffins will play the hosting Monarchs (3:00 p.m.) before meeting Penn State Schuylkill (5:00 p.n.) for the first time in program history. Gwynedd Mercy University is 1-10 all-time against King's College (Pa.), including a 3-2 (25-15, 21-25, 24-26, 25-20, 15-4) loss in 2025 (Oct. 25). Senior middle hitter Charlotte Pugh (Philadelphia, Pa.) finished with a match-high 15 kills, while recording a solo block and two assists to secure 16 points. Meanwhile, freshman setter Macie Ferla (Mickleton, N.J.) had the best match of her debut season with 32 assists, a kill, five aces, and seven digs.
 
Following the tri-match, Gwynedd Mercy University will return to the Athletic Complex on Wednesday, September 9, to host Cairn University for a 7:00 p.m. home opener. The Griffins will have a chance to even their all-time mark (12-13) against the Highlanders, who have taken an edge in the rivalry with wins in the last three meetings. The most recent was a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-21) final in 2025 (Sept. 25); the Red and Gold had trouble finding their footing, but got more than 10 points apiece from Pugh (11.5 points; 11 kills, 1 block assist) and Etter (10; 10 kills) as well as three kills, 25 assists, two aces, and a dozen (12) digs from Gaston in the loss.
 
Former Atlantic East Conference (AEC) rival, Marywood University will host Gwynedd Mercy University for a 11:00 a.m. match on Saturday, September 12. The tri-match will also include a 1:00 p.m. match versus Lycoming College; it will be the first-ever meeting between the Griffins and Warriors. Gwynedd Mercy University hit .106 (25K-15E-94TA) in 2025 (Oct. 11) with their best effort coming in the opening set; .200 (10K-4E-30TA).
Gaston supported Etter's 13-kill performance with two kills, 20 assists, and four digs, while Pugh recorded five kills and surpassed the 1,000-dig plateau with her sixth dig of a 13-dig effort. She also recorded an assist, an ace, and a block assist.
 
The second of four first-time opponents on Gwynedd Mercy University's schedule, the Griffins will travel to Bryn Mawr College on Saturday, September 19, for a tri-match Elmira College (TBA) and the hosting Owls (TBA). The Red and Gold is 12-7 all-time against Bryn Mawr College, including a 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-14) victory in 2024 (Oct. 2). That meeting was a historical one for the Red and Gold, who celebrated Bria Purnell '25 surpassing Chrissy Longbottom '06 (1,093) as the Griffins' all-time kill leader; Purnell totaled 14 kills as part of a .248 (35K-10E-101TA) team hitting percentage. Gwynedd Mercy University also landed nine aces and combined for 4.0 team blocks (2 solo, 4 assisted blocks) in the win.
 
With the weekend off, Gwynedd Mercy University will return to the Athletic Complex on Wednesday, September 23, for a 6:00 p.m. Morgan's Message match with Penn State Abington. The Red and Gold is 7-6 all-time against these Nittany Lions, including a marathon 3-2 (25-15, 21-25, 33-31, 23-25, 15-9) victory in 2025 (Sept. 4). In the deciding set, Gaston and Etter got the Griffins off to a good start, and a brilliant finish, as the duo combined four times in a breakaway win; 15-9. Etter finished with 20 kills on a .286 (20K-6E-49TA) hitting percentage, while also recording an assist and five digs. Meanwhile, Gaston was good for 45 assists in addition to four kills, two aces, three block assists, and 13 digs. Pugh (17.0 points; 16 kills, 2 block assists) and sophomore middle hitter Emma Hastings (Collingswood, N.J.) (9 kills, 1 solo block, 2 block assists) joined Etter in double-digit points; the former also led five Griffins in double-digit digs with 23.
 
On Saturday, September 26, Gwynedd Mercy University visits Goucher College for a tri-match with the Gophers (1:00 p.m.) and Cheyney University (3:00 p.m.). The Griffins are 7-6 all-time against Goucher College, including a 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-16) victory on 2024 (Sept. 21). Gwynedd Mercy University hit .159 (39K-19E-126TA) with eight aces, three solo blocks, and four block assists against the Gophers. They were led by Purnell, who paired 20.0 points (17 kills, 3 aces) with an assist and 17 digs. Etter joined her in double-digit points with 13.0 (12 kills, 2 block assists), and she hustled to eight digs. Gaston finished with two kills, 31 assists, four aces, and five digs.
 
September's schedule ends on Wednesday, the 30^th, with a 7:00 p.m. match at Wilkes University. The Colonels are another new opponent for the Griffins, who kickoff October with a home tri-match with Widener University (11:00 a.m.) and Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) – Florham (3:00 p.m.).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University is 1-10 all-time against the Pride, who have won the last eight meetings; the last was a 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-14, 25-16) win in 2025 (Oct. 16). The Griffins held a 16-12 edge and lost their advantage to an 8-0 Widener University run before recovering for a 26-24 win in the second set.
 
They hit .069 (6K-4E-29TA) in the frame, but offered more efficient frames in the first (.133; 8K-4E-30TA) and fourth (10K-5E-29TA) sets. In the end, Gwynedd Mercy University totaled 10 aces; freshman defensive specialist P.J. Mendoza (Kennett Square, Pa.) led with three. Pugh and Etter finished with double-digit points; the former totaled 10.5 with eight kills, two aces, and a block assist, while the latter scored 10.0 with seven kills, an ace, and four block assists.
 
5-0 all-time against the Red and Gold, FDU-Florham was last on the Gwynedd Mercy University schedule in 2024 (Oct. 19), when they defeated the Griffins in a 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-13, 17-25, 15-8) conclusion. The Griffins hit .162 (46K-22E-148TA) versus the Devils while recording seven aces and making three team blocks. Purnell continued her historical fifth season by surpassing Hillary Tubbs '06 (1,348.5 points) for the Red and Gold's all-time points mark with her fifth of the match; she finished with 25.0 points thanks to a season-high 23 kills and a pair of aces.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University continues the month – and concludes non-conference play - with matches at Notre Dame of Maryland University (Oct. 7, 7:00 p.m.), a tri-match at Arcadia University (Oct. 10, 11:00 a.m.) with Baruch College (Oct. 10, 1:00 p.m.), and first-ever meeting with Susquehanna University (Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m.).
 
The Griffins last encountered the Gators in 2024 (Sept. 28), when a 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-19) loss saw Notre Dame of Maryland University hold Gwynedd Mercy University to a .045 (28K-24E-88TA) hitting percentage. Purnell led with a dozen (12) kills, but Etter was more efficient with 11 kills on a team-high .280 (11K-4E-25TA) hitting percentage. Gaston finished with 24 assists, one of three Gwynedd Mercy University aces, and six digs. The Red and Gold are 3-16 all-time against the Gators, who have won the last dozen (12) meetings.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University is 6-11 all-time against Arcadia University and 0-4 all-time against Baruch College. The former has won seven straight against the Griffins, including a 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20) final in 2025 (Sept. 27). The Red and Gold hit .241 (10K-3E-29TA) in their third-set victory and combined for eight blocks in the match; Hastings was the major reason with 10.0 points on four kills, an ace, three solo blocks, and four block assists. Sophomore libero Marley Robbins (Medford, N.J.) scored three of the Red and Gold's seven aces in the match.
 
October concludes with AEC play. Gwynedd Mercy University will see Pratt Institute and defending AEC champion, Marymount University twice apiece in 2026. They host the Cannoneers for a 1:00 p.m. Senior Day match and travel their Athletic and Recreation Center (ARC) on November 7 (1:00 p.m.); in between, they visit the Saints on October 20 (6:00 p.m.) and host them on November 4 (6:00 p.m.). The Griffins are also slated to visit Immaculata University (Oct. 24, 1:00 p.m.) and Centenary University (N.J.) (Oct. 31, 1:00 p.m.) on either side of a November-4 (6:00 p.m.) match versus Saint Elizabeth University.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University hit a season's best .269 (40K-15E-93TA) and spotted 11 aces against in a 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-19) 2025 (Nov. 5)-win over Pratt Institute. They were led by Pugh (17 kills, 2 aces, 1 block assist, 8 digs) and Etter (13, 3, 1, 5) who combined for 30 kills, five aces, a couple block assists, and 13 digs.
 
Gaston left her fingerprint on the victory with five kills, 31 assists, three aces, and five digs. It was Gwynedd Mercy University's third consecutive win over the Cannoneers; they are 3-1 all-time against their AEC rival. The Griffins are 0-8 all-time against Marymount University, including a 3-1 (19-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-22) loss in 2025 (Oct. 29). The Griffins marked the Saints' first set lost to an AEC foe with an 25-20 victory in the second set.
 
Unfortunately, Marymount University saw to it that they stayed atop the league standings with succeeding wins of 25-17 and 25-22. Pugh (11 kills) and Etter (10) both recorded 12.0 points with double-digit kills while Gaston directed the Red and Gold with two kills, 23 assists, four aces, two block assists, and six digs.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University's 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 12-25, 25-15) win over Saint Elizabeth University in 2025 (Nov. 1) came, large in-part, on the efforts of and Pugh. Both recorded double-doubles; the former paired 16 kills with 18 digs, while the latter totaled 13 kills and 16 digs. Their performances were fueled by Gaston, who contributed two kills, 32 assists, four aces, and two digs to the triumph. The Griffins are 3-1 all-time against the Eagles, including the 2025 victory.
 
In 2025 (Oct. 17), the Griffins feed off a Senior Day crowd to take the opening set off Centenary University (N.J.) by a 25-17 measure. Unfortunately, the Cyclones disappointed the Griffin Complex faithful twice as they gained control of the affair with back-to-back wins of 25-23 and 25-22, before ruining a potential comeback with a 15-9 deciding-set win. Etter led Gwynedd Mercy University with 21 points (20 kills, 2 block assists) thanks to a determined effort from Gaston; 10.0 points (5 kills, 2 aces, 2 solo blocks, 2 block assists), 27 assists, and 10 digs. The Red and Gold is 13-5 all-time against Centenary University (N.J.).
 
The 2026 AEC Women's Volleyball Championship is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, with the first and semifinal rounds respectively scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, and Thursday, November 12.