BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Northampton women's volleyball team, coming off a 29-4 season a year ago, is ready to get the 2026 season underway on Saturday August 29th. 

Head Coach Rachael Aquila and her squad have their goals focused on defending the 2025 NJCAA East A District title and a return trip to the NJCAA women's volleyball national tournament.

"We have a new team coming in this year and we are excited, just like we are every year," explained Spartans Head Coach Rachael Aquila, "I feel we have a nice balance with our lineup, and we are going to play very good defense. That is the key for us and feel we can transition into a quick offensive attack at any time. We know what our goals are for this season. This will be a fun team."

Aquila enters her 6th season at the helm of the Spartans program with an impressive overall mark of 82-26, having captured three Region 19 championships (2022, 2023, 2025). Coach Aquila has also seen her teams capture the NJCAA Sportsmanship Team award in 2023 and 2025, while also taking in the Region 19 Coach of the Year award in 2022, 2023 and 2025.

The Spartans return four members from a team that captured the program's 10^th Region 19 championship and finished in 8^th place at the NJCAA national tournament. Sophomore Sophia Tyma (Bethlehem, PA/Lehigh Valley Academy) will see time at Middle Blocker for the Spartans and Kyra Miller (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) will again contribute as an Outside Hitter. Emily Marcial (Allentown, PA/Executive Charter) and Quinn Micheli (Walnutport, PA/Northampton) will patrol the backline at Libero and Defensive Specialist.

Newcomers Kornelia Wszolek (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) and Brooke Markovitz (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) will be in key roles for Coach Aquila at the front of the net and are expected to contribute at Middle Hitter and Opposite Hitter right away. Both will also be a blocking force for the Spartans.

"We have two big additions in Kornelia Wszolek (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) and Brooke Markovitz (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom)," continued Aquila, "They are very athletic, smart on the court and give us a big block as well. We are happy to have them with us."

The Spartans also have Amanda Rivera (Macungie, PA/Emmaus) to chip in with the offensive attack while Allie Keck (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) distributes the looks from the Setter position.

Northampton opens the season this Saturday, August 29^th when they host a tri-match with Nassau Community College and Salem Community College at the Arthur L. Scott Center.

The Spartans open the day against Nassau CC at 11am and take on Salem CC at 3pm.