Worcester, MA- Head Coach Bernie Chase, starting his 19^th year at the helm, has announced his team’s slate of 2023 matches. The team is looking to avenge a MASCAC Championship loss to Westfield State in their bid for a return to the NCAA tournament this fall. The group of athletes, who have never failed to qualify for the post season tournament, will be led by graduate senior and MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year Camryn Burgio. Alongside Burgio will see the return of fellow graduate student Erin Gaffney along with MASCAC First Team All-Conference selection Angela Colonis and Second Team All-Conference honoree Maeve Cadogan, who will be surrounded by a talented group of returners and incoming talent.

“I am excited to welcome back graduate students Camryn Burgio and Erin Gaffney along with the rest of the returning players”, says Chase. “The 2022 team had a great run in the 2022 playoffs and I'm looking forward to another successful season.  I'm excited to welcome incoming freshmen Kathleen Russo, Beatrice Gamboa Estrella and Michelle Iannacito to the team.  Each of them completed a successful high school volleyball career and will be a welcome addition to the team.”

The Women’s Volleyball team begins their season following a similar path in a bid to find and surpass their success from last year. The Lancers will be home for just eight dates this season, while they will spend 14 matching up against top programs in New England. The Lancers will start off at Brandeis University, where they will face off not only with the judges, but Salve Regina on September 2nd, before travelling to Anna Maria on September 6^th. The Lancers will remain on the road as they take on Framingham State in a non-conference battle on September 7^th before heading to a tri-match at Trinity on the 9^th. Worcester State’s home opener will see them welcome the Regis Pride onto Brissette Court on September 12^th, before another three-game travel stand will take them across town to WPI on September 14^th, Suffolk for a tri-match battle with Keene State on September 16^th and finally another dual with the Corsairs on the 21^st.

The Lancers close out September with two at home, a non-conference tri-match that will bring Westfield State and Connecticut College to Worcester which will also see the Lancers host an Alumni game before the day of Volleyball action, ahead of the MASCAC opener versus Salem State on September 26^th. The final two matches of September will take place on the 30^th when a trip to Boston will see a battle with both Wentworth and Rivier.

The Blue and Gold return home for a two-game stand when they take on Clark University on October 5^th before returning to the MASCAC when they host Fitchburg State on the 7^th. October 11^th will send the Lancers on their first conference trip as they head down to Bridgewater State before travelling to tri-match action on October 14^th at Dean where they will serve off additionally against Eastern Connecticut State. Worcester will look for MASCAC revenge on October 17^th against Westfield State in their bid to claim the conference victory denied them in the final match of last season.

The final six games will see four away before a return to close out the season at home. October 19^th has the Lancers travel down to Rhode Island College before heading to Mass Maritime on October 21^st. Worcester State heads to their final road conference game on October 25^th when they travel down route 9 to take on Framingham State before closing out their regular season travel on October 28^th when they travel to Emerson for their final tri-match of the season that will also see them take on the Eastern Nazarene Lions. The Blue and Gold close out the season with a repeat battle versus Keene State on Halloween before hosting the final MASCAC game, which will also serve as the team's Senior Day, which will honor and celebrate the impact of this year’s senior members, on November 4^th versus MCLA.

Live stats and videos for all games can be found on the Worcester State Volleyball Schedule.