The College of Southern Maryland volleyball team secured a 3-1 victory over No. 14 Raritan Valley Community College on Aug. 31, marking its first win against a ranked opponent since Sept. 3, 2017, when the Hawks defeated No. 20 Rhode Island Community College. The match, part of the Monroe Invitational at the Monroe Athletic Complex in New Rochelle, New York, ended with set scores of 25-11, 20-25, 25-15 and 25-20, improving CSM to 1-7 overall while dropping Raritan Valley to 0-4.
Lelia Iafeta led the Hawks with a career-high 17 digs and 15 kills, achieving her first collegiate double-double at averages of 4.25 digs and 3.75 kills per set. Amelie Lancioni contributed another double-double with 29 assists, 13 digs and four kills, averaging 7.25 assists and 3.25 digs per set. Taylor Hollinger and Deanna Kalkbrenner each scored 13 points, combining for 21 kills, 11 digs, three aces and two blocks. Ana Salamanca posted a season-best 43 digs, averaging 10.75 per set, along with three aces.
For Raritan Valley, Emma Kovacs paced the Lions with six kills, 19 digs and five aces. Ra-Yanah Brown-Smith added five blocks. The Hawks outhit the Lions .157 to -.033, recording 92 digs to 70, nine aces to 11 and four blocks apiece.
The win snapped a seven-game skid for CSM, which began the season 0-4 at the Cape Fear Invitational in Wilmington, North Carolina, from Aug. 22-23, losing to Cape Fear Community College, St. Johns River State College, Florida State College at Jacksonville and Sandhills Community College. At the Monroe Invitational, the Hawks fell 3-0 to Richard Bland College earlier on Aug. 31 before rebounding against Raritan Valley. The series history dates to 2012, with CSM now leading 1-0.
Under head coach Michelle Sanders, in her fifth season, the Hawks blend veterans like Lancioni, a sophomore setter from Buenos Aires, Argentina, who led the team in assists last year, with freshmen such as Iafeta from Alexandria, Virginia. Salamanca, a sophomore libero from California, Maryland, has anchored the defense, while Hollinger, a freshman from La Plata, and Kalkbrenner, a sophomore from Mechanicsville, provide front-row presence. The team’s early struggles reflect a rebuilding effort, as CSM finished 2024 with an 8-4 conference record and a 9-3 home mark but went 1-5 at neutral sites.
Raritan Valley, competing in NJCAA Division III and ranked No. 14 in the preseason poll released Aug. 18, entered the match after losses to Montgomery College (Maryland) and Richard Bland College. The Lions, based in Branchburg, New Jersey, feature a roster including Kovacs, a sophomore outside hitter, and focus on Garden State Athletic Conference play. CSM, an NJCAA Division II program in Region 20 and the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference, capitalized on the non-conference matchup for the upset.
CSM’s 2025 schedule includes 22 matches, with 12 at home in La Plata. The Hawks open Region 20 and conference play on Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. against Baltimore City Community College in Baltimore, followed by a Sept. 5 home match against Anne Arundel Community College at 6 p.m. Later highlights include the Oct. 1 tri-match with Harford Community College and Cecil College, and the regular-season finale Oct. 22 at Montgomery College. The Region 20 tournament is set for Nov. 1-2, with nationals Nov. 20-22 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for qualifiers.
NJCAA volleyball has seen increased competitiveness, with Division III preseason No. 1 Dallas College Eastfield leading the rankings, followed by College of DuPage and Minnesota West Community & Technical College. For CSM, the win provides momentum entering conference action, where the Hawks have posted winning records in recent years.
Sanders, who took over in 2021, has guided the team to 47 wins over four seasons, emphasizing fundamentals and team chemistry. The roster includes local talents like Kalkbrenner from Chopticon High School and transfers from across the U.S. and abroad.
As the season progresses, CSM aims to leverage this upset for a strong conference showing, potentially qualifying for the Region 20 playoffs for the third time in four years. The Hawks’ home games at the Physical Education Center in La Plata offer opportunities for community engagement, with free admission encouraging attendance from Southern Maryland families.
