The Aquinas Academy girls volleyball team enters the 2026 season with an experienced core, several promising new contributors, and its sights set on making an impact in the WPIAL postseason. Head Coach Jenny Chufo enters her fourth season leading the Crusaders and believes the experience throughout the roster should be one of Aquinas’ biggest strengths, particularly as the team prepares to compete in a newly configured section. “The section is all reconfigured with a much bigger section, so there are a lot of unknowns, but with the experience we have, we should be a very competitive team,” Chufo said. Leading that experienced group is senior Kay Chufo, who returns after earning First Team All-Section honors last season. She will be joined by fellow seniors Katie Tarquinio, Carly Bezila, and Megan Policicchio, giving Aquinas a veteran group to build around. Tarquinio will make a position change after playing middle last season. She moves back to the outside this fall, a move Coach Chufo is excited about as the Crusaders look to take advantage of the senior’s abilities. Policicchio will play on the right side at opposite. Coach Chufo praised her versatility and the different ways she can contribute on the court. Bezila will also take on a new role this season, moving to libero and bringing senior experience to an important position in the Crusaders’ defense. While Aquinas has plenty of veterans, the Crusaders will also need contributions from players with less varsity experience. “Although the team isn’t young, we do have a lot of young players who will be relied on to make key contributions,” Chufo said. One player who has stood out during the preseason is Myah Gaydosz, who makes the move from JV to the varsity roster this season. Gaydosz has impressed throughout the preseason and is expected to contribute as she takes on a larger role for the Crusaders. Sophomore Claire Bandurski is also expected to play an important role this season and adds another piece to the Crusaders’ lineup. Aquinas also welcomes Mila Cugini, who joins the program after previously playing at Oakland Catholic. Cugini is expected to make an immediate impact at setter and gives Aquinas another option offensively. The combination of an experienced senior class and players stepping into new or expanded roles gives Chufo reason for optimism entering the season. While the reconfigured section brings plenty of unknowns, the Crusaders believe they have the experience and depth necessary to compete. The goal for Aquinas is clear: qualify for the WPIAL playoffs and win playoff matches once they get there. The Crusaders will also have their eye on their matchups with St. Joseph High School, a familiar rival that should once again provide some of the most anticipated matches on the schedule. Aquinas won’t have to wait long to see where it stands. The Crusaders open the 2026 season on August 29 at Deer Lakes. With an All-Section player returning, a veteran senior class, younger players ready to make an impact, and a fourth-year head coach leading the program, Aquinas enters the 2026 season looking to turn that combination of experience and emerging talent into a successful fall...and a postseason run. Watch the 2026 Aquinas Girls Volleyball Season Preview: https://youtu.be/rNGSGWDGd_Q Follow Aquinas Athletics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aquinascrusaders/ Follow Aquinas Athletics on X: https://x.com/AquinasAD For the latest Aquinas Academy Athletics news, schedules, results and more, visit AquinasCrusaders.org.