GREENVILLE, Pa. (Nov. 6) -- The Thiel College Women's Basketball team enters the 2025-26 season looking to take a step forward in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) under the leadership of third-year head coach Jessica Vormelker '19.

The Tomcats feature a mix of returning key performers as well as a solid freshman class. 

Returners Issy Green (Slippery Rock, Pa./Portersville Christian) and Kayley Risser (Reynoldsville, Pa./Dubois Central Catholic), both sophomores, and junior Kelsey Seddon (Cochranton, Pa./Lakeview) figure to play prominent roles for the Blue and Gold while newcomers Emily Betsinger (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) and Kelsey Wagner (Sherman, N.Y./Sherman) will see significant action for the Tomcats. All four were named Players to Watch for the 2025-26 season by the PAC.

Thiel opens the season tomorrow evening at Fredonia in a 6 p.m. non-league clash.

Below is the full transcript of Vormelker and Sports Information Director Dante Parente's '94 Feet' interview previewing the 2025-26 season.

Parente
We're here with head women's basketball coach Jessica Vormelker '19. We're doing the 2025 women's basketball season preview. Jess, you ready to go?

Vormelker
I'm excited. Let's go.

Parente
Let's do it. We're going 94 feet. Let's make it happen. Coach, just take us through what are some of the, you know, goals and expectations for your team as you begin this season tomorrow night?

Vormelker
Yeah, super excited to get going tomorrow at Fredonia. You know, I think as we continue to just build our program, we just every single time we stepped on the court, we just wanted it in every single area. I think that we've shown some areas of improvement since this last season. So, we're excited to be able to get out there.

Parente
Now, kind of take us through some of the returning players to the program who you are excited for and kind of expect big things from here in the 2025 26 season?

Vormelker
Yeah. So, I think some of our key returners are Kayle Risser, Issy Green (Slippery Rock, Pa./Portersville Christian) and Kelsey Seddon (Cochranton, Pa./Lakeview). Izzy and Kayley both had great seasons last year as freshman statistically. So, we're super excited to see them to continue to grow during their sophomore year. And then Kelsey Seddon (Cochranton, Pa./Lakeview), she's a junior this year and she has kind of been plagued with injuries the past two seasons. So really excited to see what Kelsey can do as well.

Parente
Now who are some of the newcomers to the program that you're excited for as we begin the season?

Vormelker
Yeah, so we have five incoming freshmen, and truly I'm excited for all five of them. Four of them are healthy right now, one's injured, but I think all of them will be able to help us this season.

Parente
Last question, coach. What's your message to Tomcat Nation as you get ready to tip off this season and you know just what's your message?

Vormelker
You know we're just really excited to keep building our program, and we just are really encouraged from the support that we've gotten so far during these past few years and we just are really excited to keep growing this upcoming season and we're excited to get going.

Parente
Awesome. That's women's basketball head coach Jess Vormelker. 2025-26 season preview. Tomcats tip it off Friday night at Fredonia. Go Tomcats.