WMVO Good Times Great Oldies
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s volleyball team is set to begin its season on Friday, August 19 as the Lady Cougars travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana to take on Mount Mercy University at 4:00pm. It is MVNU’s first of four matches on the weekend as they will play two on Friday night and two Saturday as part of the Onset Invitational at the University of Saint Francis.
The Lady Cougars had a stellar 2021 campaign, which saw them go 27-9 overall with an 11-7 record in the Crossroads League. Though they would eventually fall to Bethel University in the Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinal, it was a great season for second-year head coach Kendra Mosher. She will use last season as a foundation for a successful 2022 season.
Mosher will be without last year’s graduated seniors Ellie Ruby (2021 Second Team All-Crossroads League, 2,190 career digs), Nicole Winkler (2021 First Team All-Crossroads League, 1,323 career kills), and Tory Small (997 careers kills), but has a very solid senior class in Paige Brenner, Molly Galaszewski, Erica Gasser, and Ashley Stumperth.
Brenner returns for her senior season after being a First Team All-Crossroads League selection as a setter in 2021. The Copley, Ohio native has already surpassed 3,000 career assists. Galaszewski, a defensive specialist, is poised for a breakout senior season. Gasser, who missed last season with an injury, will look to contribute in the middle of the court. Stumperth, from Canton, Ohio, will lead the Lady Cougars attack. The 5’9” outside hitter has 836 career kills, including 387 kills last year.
Coach Mosher also has some new faces on her team this year. Seven incoming freshmen—Graci Claxon, Jaelyn Tang, Loren Burton, Ashley Merrick, Reagan Nuss, Faith Maloney, and Grace Green—will provide talented depth to the team and help build for the future.
With the core of the team from last year returning and the addition of talent and energy in the form of the freshmen class, Mosher and the Lady Cougars will look to jump out of the gate early and set themselves up for a successful season.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and several convenient Graduate and Professional Studies locations throughout the state, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,200 students from 31 states and 22 countries/U.S. territories.
