LAKEWOOD, NJ (August 27, 2026) - Georgian Court Volleyball is loaded with new faces and a fresh outlook for 2026. They take the court for the first time this weekend playing four games over a span of two days.

Opponent (2025 record)
St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans (5-20, 1-11 ECC)

Where
Lakewood, NJ - GCU Wellness Center

When
Tuesday, September 1 - 12 pm

How to Watch
• Tuesday's game is available to watch on a free-to-view broadcast on the Georgian Court portal of the CACC Digital Network. Live stats are also available on gculions.com

Previously vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
• The Lions and Spartans do not have an extensive history, despite being regional opponents.
• These teams have met just three times since the turn of the century.
• All-time, the Lions are just 1-4 against St. Thomas Aquinas.
• That includes a loss last season in Sparkill.
• After winning set one, STAC took the next three for a 3-1 win over GCU.
• Five Lions were in double-figure digs, led by Carmen Rivera Colon's 13.
• The Spartans landed 11 aces in four sets. 

Last Time Out
• Georgian Court started the season playing four games on Long Island.
• The Lions went 0-4, with three of the losses coming against team who competed in the NCAA East Region Championship.
• The season started with a hard-fought five-set loss to Molloy.

CACC Stat Leaders
• The Lions 2.19 blocks per set and 35 total blocks lead the CACC.
• Georgian Court is also second in the league with 223 team digs.
• Flavia Pecora is leading the conference with 1.13 blocks per set.
• Ava Churnesky is in the top-three in kills and points per set. She leads the CACC with 52 total kills.
• Carmen Rivera Colon is second in the conference with 64 digs. 

Individual Milestones
• Kyla Davis is nearing 200 career points with 189.
• Ava Churnesky needs nine kills to reach 300 in her career and three digs for 200. 

Roster Turnover
• Georgian Court will have a different look from the team that finished 2025.
• The Lions have seven returners for this season and 10 newcomers.
• GCU will be looking for a new primary setter as Iciar Zayas recently graduated. Maggy Hallihan saw increased time towards the end of last year though and finished with 107 assists.
• They do still have plenty of firepower with All-CACC selection Ava Churnesky returning on the outside and Kyla Davis back in the middle. They combined for nearly 400 kills and 100 blocks.
• Carmen Rivera Colon is also back to help the defense. She was one of the top liberos in the CACC last season averaging 4.37 digs per set.
• Of the 10 newcomers, seven are freshmen with three transfers.
• Keira Mullen from Daemen and Flavia Pecora from Monroe earned postseason accolades last year while Ana Nikolic from Seward County CC was one the team's leading scorers. 
• On opening weekend, several newcomers saw plenty of action. Kathymar Laboy Negron, Ana Nikolic and Flavia Pecora all started all four games. 
• Freshmen Madison WIlbert and Roshell Chevres Sanchez played in 15 out of 16 sets. 

About St. Thomas Aquinas
• Unlike Georgian Court, STAC is yet to have their season opener.
• Tuesday will mark the Spartans first game of 2026.
• They finished last season 5-20 and 1-11 in the ECC. One of those five wins though game against Georgian Court.
• The Spartans were picked to finish in a tie for sixth this season in the ECC Preseason Poll.
• Sophomore outside hitter Adriana Zarceno returns after making the All-ECC Honorable Mention team in 2025. She led the team with nearly four kills per set.
• As a team, the Spartans led the ECC a year ago in digs per set while Boklarka Kiss's 3.85 was second in the league. Kiss is back for her senior season.