Women’s Volleyball | 7/10/2025 4:58:00 PM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Women’s volleyball standouts Kiera Hartpence and Kaylene Noble recently represented St. John Fisher University on the international stage, competing on a United States Division III National Team that traveled to Brazil.
The pair of Cardinals, who earned spots on the team for their impressive performances throughout their collegiate careers, played in four matches during the trip. Their team included players from Salisbury University, Christopher Newport, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and other Division III programs.
“My experience in Brazil is something I will never forget. I was honored to be asked for such an amazing opportunity to be a part of the DIII USA National Team. I met so many successful athletes and made great connections with them,” Hartpence, a rising senior libero, said. “Playing on the court was so much fun and was a very high level of volleyball. I was able to meet other volleyball players in Brazil, trade my old jerseys and t-shirts, and learned about Brazilian culture, which was a great learning opportunity. This experience was unforgettable, and I am so glad I got to be a part of it.”
“Playing on the USA DIII National Team in Brazil was an amazing opportunity with a high level of play, an amazing group of girls and memories to last a lifetime,” Noble, a rising junior outside hitter, said. “Our team had great chemistry on and off the court, but we also made great relationships with the girls on the opposing teams, no matter if we won or lost. “It was such a rewarding experience, and it was so much fun to represent our country while playing against such good competition with some of the best DIII players in the nation.”
The trip, organized by USA Sports Tours and Events, provided selected student-athletes with a comprehensive international experience, immersing them in competition, Brazilian culture, social outreach and team bonding. Hartpence and Noble’s team went 3-1 in its matches against Brazilian volleyball clubs Louveira, Centro Olympico, Ripper Volei and Marina Barra Clube.
Off the court, Hartpence and Noble enjoyed visiting various tourist attractions in the country, including the Christ the Redeemer statue and the Lapa Steps in Rio de Janeiro. They also visited several markets and beaches.
Hartpence, the 2023 Empire 8 Conference Libero of the Year, has amassed 1,213 career digs, 294 assists and 117 service aces through her first three collegiate seasons. The three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District nominee studies management.
One of the top offensive threats in the region, Noble, the E8 Rookie and Player of the Year as a freshman in 2023, slammed nearly 700 kills in her first two seasons as a Cardinal. The nursing major earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors for the first time in her collegiate career in 2024.
The Cardinals won their fifth Empire 8 Conference title under head coach Kelly Greapentrog in 2024. They made the program’s sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and ended the season 21-9 overall.
