Alfred University Women's Volleyball

  Hired at AU: August of 2017 Prior to AU: Tabb high School (2014-2016) Peninsula Catholic High School Mt. View High School Sabino High School Arizona Premier Volleyball Club University of Arizona Women's B Club Zona Volleyball Club Alma Mater: Washington State University '00 Texas A&M '03 EHRD   Mike Honeycutt joined the Saxon volleyball coaching staff for the start of the 2017 season as the Assistant Coach, stepped in as the Interim Head Coach before the start of the 2022 season and was named the Head Coach at the conclusion of the same season. During the 2023 season, Honeycutt and the Saxons defeated #4 Nazareth, #1 St. John Fisher University and #3 Keuka College all on the road in the postseason as part of the program's first ever Empire 8 Championship. Alfred University became the first program in conference history to win as a #5 seed and marked the first upset win in the finals since the 2018 season. It was the first time since 2012 that anyone but the #1 or #2 seed won the tournament. Taylor Malone, Delaney Sims, and Casey Grange each earned All-Empire 8 honors, with Grange named as the Empire 8 Tournament MVP. The Saxons later appeared in the NCAA Tournament, competing against #19 MIT. Multiple Saxons earned their way into the record books, with Darian Ortiz clinching the program record for career digs.  Honeycutt was most recently a volleyball coach in Newport News, VA where he coached for Tabb High School from July 2014 until November 2016. His team went on to win the 2015 conference championships, making it the first in school history in which they followed with the school's first back-to-back championships in 2016 as well as the first regional championships. They finished third in the state of Virginia in 2016. Honeycutt had two girls earn Second Team All-State in 2016 and one on the First Team. He was voted the Conference Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2016 and earned Region Coach of the Year in 2017. During his tenure at Tabb High School, Honeycutt also coached the Coastal Hampton Roads Volleyball Club from January 2013 until August 2016. Prior to Tabb High School, Honeycutt coached the boys volleyball team at Peninsula Catholic High School in Newport News, VA, the boys volleyball team at Mt. View High School in Marana, AZ, the boys team at Sabino High School in Tucson, AZ and the Arizona Premier Volleyball Club boys team also in Tucson, AZ, all spanning from January 2007 until November 2013. Honeycutt also coached the University of Arizona women's B Club team as well as the girls for Zona Volleyball club. Honeycutt played club volleyball in college while at Texas A&M University where while playing on the First Team from 2002-03, helped his team finish ninth in Division I at the NIRSA National Championships. He also played and coached the Second Team from 2001-02 and helped them finish 11th in Division III during the NIRSA National Championships. Prior to Texas A&M, he played at Washington State University from 2000-01, helped the Second Team as a player and coach take the Bronze Division Championships. He also played First Team from 1998-00, helping the team finish fifth, 11th and 17th places.   All-Region Honors: 1 Empire 8 All-Conference Honors: 12 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District: 10   Alfred University Overall Record Empire 8 Record Postseason Year-End Finish 2025 12-18 (.400) 4-7 (.364) 0-1 Empire 8 Quarterfinalists 2024 15-9 (.625) 7-4 (.625) 0-1 Empire 8 Quarterfinalists 2023 14-14 (.500) 5-3 (.625) 3-1 Empire 8 Champions, NCAA Tournament Participants 2022 5-13 (.278) 2-7 (.222) N/A 8th (of 10) Overall Totals 46-54 (.460) 18-21 (.462)  3-3 (.500)  --

Hired at AU: August of 2023 Alma Mater: Concordia Irvine '18, Houghton '11 The Alfred University Women's Volleyball team announced the promotion of Rachel Blew to assistant coach prior to the 2025 season.     She has been a part of the Saxons as a volunteer assistant coach since 2023.    Before arriving at AU, Blew spent time as head coach for volleyball, track & field and tennis at Houghton Academy.       In 2017, she served as the Assistant General Manager and the Coordinator of Sponsorship Services for the Genesee Rapids baseball team. She oversaw the day-to-day operations while bringing in sponsors.    A native of Houghton, NY, Blew earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art and Photography from Houghton University in 2011. She graduated with a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration and Coaching from Concordia University Irvine in 2018.    

Dr. McGowan accepted the role as Faculty Athletics Representative in August of 2025, adding to his role as a Professor of Chemistry at Alfred University. In his role as the FAR, McGowan will represent Alfred University in NCAA and Empire 8 business, lead the Faculty Athletic Liaison program, serve on the AU Athletics academic success team, coordinate the nomination process for Empire 8 scholar-athlete awards, serve on the athletic awards selection committee, report out to faculty on student-athlete academic performance and other responsibilities related to the academic aspects of Saxon student-athletes. McGowan has been a standout fan of Alfred University Athletics for years, being easily findable during home events with his signature purple and gold tie dye shirts. His passion and pride for the Saxons is so evident that he was named the 2023 Exceptional Saxon during the first ALFYS Awards Night.