8/28/25

SCRANTON, Pa. -- Last week, Lackawanna College women's volleyball gathered for its annual Media Day, and the buzz around the program was that of expectation and anticipation.

The expectation was the potential for the program's future, both in the immediate and on the horizon, as the Falcons embark on their final NJCAA season, with PSAC and four-year program play due to commence next season. The anticipation is getting this final season underway, as the Falcons, winners of a Region XIX championship and 31 matches over the last two years, will try to go out on a high note.

Fueling those two emotions are the handful of players returning from last year's squad. Second-team All-American selection Jana Hofmann (Colorado Springs, CO) is the biggest piece of the returners. Hofmann, who was also the Region XIX POTY and a first-team All-Region selection, led the Falcons in several categories, including kills (265), kills per set (2.76), total attacks (845), hitting percentage (.180), service aces (80), and aces per set (0.83). Hofmann was second on the team at 313 digs, averaging 3.26 per set. The outside hitter returns this season and has expectations set high for both herself and her teammates.



Also returning to the squad from last season is middle blocker Neurdia Osias (Huntington Station, NY), who spent some time out with injury last year. Osias still managed to post 23 total blocks, second on the team, while also posting 69 kills in 64 sets played on the year, averaging just over a kill per set. Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Delianie Del Bois (New Port Richey, FL) returns after seeing action in 73 sets and 23 matches one year ago. Del Bois had 280 digs, averaging 3.8 digs per set, and she had ten service aces on the season. Another returning L/DS, Mekenzie Dineen (Wilmington, DE) is excited to get back on the floor. Dineen was injured in the warm-ups of the first scrimmage back in the 2023 season, missed all of the 2023 volleyball and 2024 softball season, and then played last year in 23 of 26 matches with a leg brace. Dineen posted 17 aces and had 79 digs. She also then played a full softball season in the spring 2025 semester. At last, Dineen feels healthy enough to really get after it, and is looking forward to 2025.



The Falcons will look to some new faces to fill the gaps, specifically in their passing offense, after graduating their top setter from a year ago. The Falcons also have to replace parts of their offense, with the departure of their second, third, fourth, and fifth-leading scorers from last year's squad.

Sophomore transfer Regan Freas (Louisa, VA) comes to the Falcons after a season at Ferrum College. Freas can slot right in to the opposite side attack for the Falcons, and will help balance their offense. First-year middle hitter Ciona Braziel (Fort Worth, TX) gives the Falcons some extra strength and depth up the middle, while defensive specialist Skylar Theis (Cypress, TX) and setter/DS Syriana Smith (Houston, TX) will add more Lone Star State depth at the back. Setters Kaitlyn Reed (Aurora, CO) and Ellania Morales (Wharton, NJ) will also help direct the offense, while outside hitter Aryanna Brown (Chester, NY) hopes to give a bit more bite to the attack. Brown comes to the Falcons with a lot of expectations for herself heading into 2025.



Head coach Shelby Reese enters her fourth season in charge of the program. Reese has a 33-32 overall record in her previous three seasons, going from 2-13 with limited roster numbers in her first year in 2022 to 14-10 and a region championship in 2023, the first in 17 years for the program. Last year, the Falcons won 17 matches under Reese, their most in ten years. Reese helped Hofmann earn Region XIX DII POTY honors, as well as the first-ever All-American nod in school history.

Tyler Pittsman joins the Falcons as assistant coach ahead of the 2025 season. Pittsman is on his second stint with Lackawanna, serving as assistant coach in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He's an NEPA native and played collegiate volleyball at Wilkes University.

Justin Butler is a volunteer assistant coach, entering his first year with the program.

The Falcons begin their regular season slate on Friday, August 29th, with a road match at Harford CC. The first home match of the season will happen on Friday, September 5th, when the Falcons host Northampton CC inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. That match will serve as the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) opener for Lackawanna. The Falcons open Region XIX DII play on Tuesday, September 9th, with a home match against County College of Morris. You can see the full schedule HERE.

Lackawanna College will also host the postseason Region XIX Division II tournament, set for play on Saturday, November 1st, inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. That will pit the top three teams from Region XIX, along with Monroe University, for a chance to advance to the NJCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic District championship game, where a shot at an NJCAA DII National Tournament berth will be on the line.