CASTLETON, Vt. — Norwich University opened the Vermont Volleyball Classic with mixed results Saturday at Glenbrook Gymnasium, losing to host Vermont State University Castleton before regrouping for a 3-1 victory over Vermont State University Lyndon to secure the Cadets’ first win of the 2026 season.
Match results and flow
Norwich fell to Castleton in three sets, 25-14, 25-7 and 25-10, in the tournament opener. The Cadets rebounded later in the day with a 25-13, 25-13, 27-29, 25-15 win over Lyndon.
| Opponent | Result | Set Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont State University Castleton | Loss | 25-14, 25-7, 25-10 |
| Vermont State University Lyndon | Win | 25-13, 25-13, 27-29, 25-15 |
The contrasting performances underlined both the Cadets’ potential and the work ahead. Castleton dominated early and never allowed Norwich to establish consistent momentum, while the Cadets showed resilience and an ability to close out matches against Lyndon after a dramatic third-set setback.
Standouts and key moments
Offensively, Norwich got contributions across the lineup. Outside hitter Vanessa Whitmill of Fremont, Calif., provided steady attacking presence, while freshman setter Ainslee Vargas of Rusk, Texas, distributed the offense and produced a service ace at a pivotal early juncture in the opener. Middle and right-side attackers such as Taylor "Rae" Lawing (Allen, Texas) and Aylei Connolly (Westfield, Mass.) also factored in during rallies.
- Whitmill supplied multiple kills that halted opponent runs.
- Vargas orchestrated the offense and recorded a service ace that sparked one early comeback.
- Isabella Vasapolli (Pepperell, Mass.) and Elexis Powell (Charlotte Hall, Md.) added timely kills that kept Norwich competitive in stretches.
The Lyndon match featured a tense third set that slipped away from Norwich, 27-29, before the Cadets reasserted control in the fourth set to close out the match. The capacity to absorb pressure after dropping the third set and regroup showed mental toughness and effective adjustments from the coaching staff.
What this means for Norwich
The win over Lyndon is Norwich’s first of the season and provides a morale boost early in the schedule. The rout by Castleton, however, lays bare areas the Cadets will need to shore up — notably limiting opponent scoring runs and maintaining offensive consistency across sets.
For a program balancing development of young players and competitive expectations, early-season tournaments such as the Vermont Volleyball Classic serve as a proving ground. The Cadets gained valuable live-match repetitions in multiple lineups and saw how quickly momentum can swing, both in their favor and against them.
Looking ahead
Norwich will take lessons from both matches as it moves deeper into the nonconference portion of its schedule. The Cadets will want to translate the offensive balance that beat Lyndon into matches against stronger opposition, while reducing the scoring runs that plagued them against Castleton.
Fans interested in following Norwich’s progress can track the Vermont Volleyball Classic and the Cadets’ full schedule through Norwich University Athletics. Weekend tournaments like this one are key opportunities for the coaching staff to evaluate rotations and for players to stake claims for starting roles heading into conference play.
Saturday’s split — a stark loss followed by a resilient win — left the Cadets with a clear takeaway: when they execute, Norwich can control matches; when they do not, the margin for error is slim. The next few weeks will show whether the program can translate the positives from Lyndon into consistent performances.
Elliot Vance is the state correspondent at WE NEWS covering Vermont sports.
