Izzie Mintz

Contributing Writer

ESU women’s volleyball sits at 17 wins and eight losses with two regular season games left. Even with their most recent loss to Lock Haven in five sets, the Warriors clinched their playoff spot in the PSAC tournament as defending champions.

“Right now, we are focusing on how to play the same despite who our opponent is,” said Kailynn Dupre a sophomore impact player for the Warriors.

“I think there is definitely a target on our back since we won PSAC’s last fall. But we know what we need to do to secure that spot again,” Dupre said when asked on how she feels about the teams current standing and regular season performance.

The Warriors were led to the PSAC championship last year by Anna Coulter who has taken on a coaching position in the 2026 season after graduating last Spring.

Coulter is a three-time PSAC East Athlete of the Year, four-time All-PSAC East First Team selection, an AVCA All-American, a D2CCA and AVCA Regional Player of the Year and has won 13 PSAC East weekly awards throughout her career.

Coulter’s leadership has grown into her assistant coach position for the warriors this season as they strive to become two-time PSAC champions.

“Anna has always had a leadership role on this team, now she just isn’t on the court with us,” said Dupre when asked about the transition for Coulter from player to coach.

Alongside Coulter’s assistant role, comes a newly appointed head coach John Forman. He is coming in with 20 years of coaching experience across all levels in the NCAA.

“The biggest difference is definitely the coaching style. Last year we had a more aggressive coaching approach and this year it’s more relaxed and calm,” Dupre explains on the changes with a new coaching staff.

With a new coaching staff, the Warriors goal remains the same. They are still working to build off their playoff success using key players like junior transfer Jadyn Orava, senior Kyra Bishop and Dupre.

Orava is a transfer from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and has helped the Warriors significantly. She has 365 kills and 224 digs on the season as an outside hitter.

Bishop is another important piece as a setter, with 599 assists on the season. Dupre is growing into her starting role with her steady 111 kills and 68 blocks on the season as a middle blocker.

The Warriors next match is Friday, Nov. 6, on the road against Shippensburg. It will be their second time playing the Raiders after being swept by them on Oct. 3, earlier this season.

The warriors begin their run for PSAC’S on Nov. 9, with more information to come as the regular season concludes.