NCAA Volleyball is just around the corner, with this coming weekend marking the beginning of a month or so of exciting nonconference matchups between some of the best programs in the country. You can catch a full list of some exciting nonconference tournaments in our 5 Things Newsletter from August 4-9 (Thing #4).
If you are new to volleyball, don’t be scared! In our opinion, it’s probably the easiest team sport to watch, explain, and be engaged in for all ages, and it’s definitely the most fun! Emotions are high, gyms get loud, momentum shifts constantly, and the action is nonstop! While there are one or two technical things to wrap your head around (like rotations and positions), rest assured that you can watch and enjoy the sport without knowing, for example, exactly what the substitution rules are for the libero position.
To be honest, we ourselves really only know enough about volleyball to point you and your family in the right direction, so that’s what this Preview Guide is for! We share 12 teams that should be your family’s favorite, along with 12 players we know you’ll love!
You’ve come to the right place! At least until the two new professional leagues get established (see Thing #2 from 5 Things on August 10-16), NCAA Volleyball is the most exciting way to immerse yourselves in the sport!
How to Watch
ESPN recently announced the first ever Sunday afternoon NCAA Championship Volleyball game for this December, along with a slate of dozens of NCAA Volleyball matches that will air on linear TV this fall and over 2,500 that will air on the ESPN+ streaming app. And with the Pac-12 Network still airing many of that conference’s matches and the Big Ten Network / Fox Sports also fairly active in volleyball, you have the ability to follow pretty much any Division I NCAA team as close as you want without breaking the bank.
ESPN+ is available for $9.99/month, but you can get a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for $12.99/month.
Big Ten Network is available through your TV provider or the Fox Sports App if you have a paid TV subscription through something like Sling, Hulu, fubo, or YouTubeTV. You can also subscribe directly to B1G+ for $14.95/month ($9.95/mo if you want just one school) or $119.95/year but this direct subscription will only give you access to games that are not already televised through the Big Ten Network or Fox (including most teams’ conference schedules). Those you’ll have to watch through your TV provider or the Fox Sports App.
The Pac-12 Network similarly airs most of the conference matchups that haven’t been picked up by ESPN, so if your favorite team is (still) in the Pac-12, you want to find the channel in a TV Provider lineup that you can use (like Sling or Fubo). Unfortunately, you cannot subscribe directly to the Pac-12 Network without another TV subscription. Keep in mind that the Pac-12 Network won’t be useful after this year!
We also strongly encourage you to go check out a volleyball match in person!
Stories to Follow
Speaking of in-person games, NCAA Volleyball continues to pack arenas with Pitt the latest to announce sold-out season tickets for 2023. Attendance records will be broken in 2023 when Nebraska plays Omaha in Memorial Stadium (capacity: 85,458) on August 30th. Perennial powerhouse Wisconsin is usually the school aiming to break these records, and they’ll play a regular season game against Marquette this year on September 13th at Fiserv Forum (capacity: 17,385), home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks in a campaign to showcase the state’s volleyball prominence. This purposeful and literal growth of the game is thrilling to watch and if you’re close by, don’t miss out on being a part of it!
The transfer portal was a big part of the offseason in volleyball once again, with several programs transforming significantly (most prominently Ohio State and Penn State) and some of the biggest names in volleyball moving to a new school (sometimes within the same conference). Here’s a quick list of some of the biggest transfers: Jenna Wenaas (Minnesota to Texas), Mac Podraza (Ohio State to Penn State), Jess Mruzik (Michigan to Penn State), Temi Thomas-Ailara (Northwestern to Wisconsin), Merritt Beason (Florida to Nebraska), Kylie Murr (Ohio State to Minnesota), Gabby Gonzales (Ohio State to Oregon), Charitie Luper (UCLA to Louisville), Jade Demps (Wisconsin to LSU), Carter Booth (Minnesota to Wisconsin), Kara McGhee (Baylor to Oregon), and Bre Kelley (Florida to Pitt).
Lastly, while there are several fifth-year “covid eligibility” super-seniors back for another go-around, there were a lot of big names that left NCAA Volleyball this spring. So there should be some exciting opportunities for breakout freshpeople and rising sophomores who didn’t see a lot of playing time last year. Look out for Harper Murray at Nebraska, the nation’s #1 recruit, and a crop of exciting freshpeople (including #2 recruit Chloe Chicoine) at Purdue. London Wijay, a reclassified 2024 recruit who joins the USC Trojans this Fall, may also make an immediate impact in a palpable way for an aspiring top team!
If you want to keep up with some good NCAA Volleyball coverage, check out Michella Chester at NCAA.com and Emily Ehman from Big Ten Network.
Team-by-Team Preview
The Girldad Sports team-by-team preview brings you 12 teams that should be your family’s favorite as you settle in to this year’s NCAA Volleyball season, along with a player from each that will likely stand out. Players’ names link to their social media unless their account is private—we do this as part of a way to support student athletes in the NIL era by directing traffic to channels that they can monetize. Please note that for former players, we try to also share where they are or will be playing professionally if in the US.
Texas (Preseason #1)
2022 Result: #1 Rank; National Champion
Conference: (2023) Big 12; (2024 & Beyond) SEC
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #7 Minnesota (8/29) BIG TEN NETWORK, #3 Stanford (9/3) ESPN2, #23 Rice (9/11), #14 Ohio State (9/14), #21 Washington State (9/15)
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: Texas is easy to fall in love with. They epitomize the swagger that makes volleyball such a fun sport to watch. And they have individual players that you and your family will remember even after they graduate—you’ll likely see 2022 stars Logan Eggleston (Galatasaray, Turkey) and Zoe Fleck (USC Munster, Germany) at a USA Volleyball competition soon after they both impressed at the Pan Am Cup this year. Returning for 2023 are middle blocker Asjia O’Neal, the only college player on the “A Team” USA squad this summer in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), as well as Madi Skinner, who won a second national championship last year after transferring “home” from Kentucky, where she won it in 2020. Molly Phillips and Bella Bergmark also return after contributing in 2022, and freshpeople Jordyn Byrd (OH) and Ella Swindle (S) look like they’re ready to jump in. But perhaps the biggest impact will be from Minnesota transfer Jenna Wenaas (OH), whose team won every set during the orange-and-white scrimmage last week after she switched sides halfway. It feels crazy to say this, but this team probably won’t miss their 2022 seniors (even Logan Eggleston).
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Asjia O’Neal
Asjia O’Neal is everywhere, and she just handles her business with the utmost of professionalism and class. The 1st Team All-American is not limited to her defensive prowess, but she’s always showing up with important blocks and that must be why the USA senior team thought to bring her along as the only college player at the VNL this summer. She has a strong chance of making the Olympic team next summer, so keep your eye on her!
Louisville (Preseason #4)
2022 Result: #2 Rank; National Runner-Up
Conference: ACC
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #21 Washington State (8/26), #8 Penn State (9/10) ESPN2, #10 Kentucky (9/13) ESPN, #3 Stanford (9/17) ESPN2
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: The Louisville / Pitt semifinal in last year’s NCAA tournament was a classic, and just showed the grit and resilience of this team from top to bottom. Outside Hitter and local kid Anna DeBeer represents this character to the fullest extent, with huge performances in big matches. She is joined this year by freshperson Alanna Bankston and UCLA transfer Charitie Luper, who looks to be a big part of the Cardinals’ offense already. Like Texas, Louisville lost two All-Americans to graduation in Claire Chaussee (GR Rise of PVF, USA) and Amaya Tillman, but returning for Louisville from last year’s squad are 2nd Team All American libero Elena Scott and two standout tournament performers in middle blocker Phekran (PK) Kong and opposite hitter Aiko Jones.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Aiko Jones
Aiko Jones came up huge in the tournament last year, especially defensively, with 6 blocks in that thriller semifinal vs. Pitt. She was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team along with Anna DeBeer, and captures the same joyful ferocity as the rest of this Louisville team. But Jones is also a remarkable person, openly negotiating her sexuality as a college student, a volleyball star, and a member of the Jamaican national team. Read this piece from outsports to learn more and follow Aiko on social media.
Pitt (Preseason #5-Tied)
2022 Result: #4 Rank; NCAA Tournament Semifinalist
Conference: ACC
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #17 BYU (8/25), #10 Kentucky (9/1 & 9/3) SEC & ACC Networks, #12 Marquette (9/8), #9 Oregon (9/14)
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: In that epic Pitt / Louisville semifinal last year, I can’t lie… I was pulling for Pitt. And despite graduating superstars Courtney Buzzerio (Chamalieres, France) and Serena Gray (Beziers, France), who also played on that USA Team at the Pan Am Cup this summer, Pitt are back with a strong core including All Americans Rachel Fairbanks (S) and Valeria Vasquez Gomez (OH), as well as Chiamaka Nwokolo (MB), who returns for her fifth year of “covid eligibility” as a graduate student. They also welcome middle blocker Bre Kelley from Florida, who was arguably the best player on a strong defensive team in 2022.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Valeria Vasquez Gomez
While senior Cat Flood’s trademark split two-tone hair color will undoubtedly stand out to your family at first glance, it is Valeria Vasquez Gomez’ headband-around-the-ears that will likely stick. Vasquez Gomez was at times arguably the best player on the court last year, and with Buzzerio gone, she will be the one who will need to step up with the production. She’s ready for it, and you’ll no doubt find joy in her emphatic offensive repertoire.
Wisconsin (Preseason #2)
2022 Result: #5 Rank; NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Conference: Big Ten
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #15 Baylor (8/25) Big Ten Network, #25 Arkansas (8/30 & 8/31) SEC Network & ESPNU, #12 Marquette (9/13) FS1, #11 Florida (9/17) ESPN2
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: Wisconsin is going to be Wisconsin every year, a perennial volleyball powerhouse with depth at every position by function of the fact that every player on their roster is an elite talent and can do literally anything in the game. It’s a safe bet for a favorite team for the next century. Losing a dynamic duo is a theme so far, and Wisconsin’s pair is among the best: Jade Demps, who transferred to LSU, and Danielle Hart (AU Volleyball & Omaha Supernovas of PVF, USA). But boy did they reload! With the addition of the Big Ten’s 2022 kill leader Temi Thomas-Ailara from Northwestern, as well as Minnesota’s standout freshperson middle blocker Carter Booth, Wisconsin has gotten better at the expense of some key conference rivals.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Sarah Franklin
Sarah Franklin was a big part of Wisconsin’s success in 2022, recording 3.6 kills / set in her first year as a Badger after transferring from Michigan State (do you see a trend here?). After a health scare this summer (she explains in this video), she was able to return in time for the season’s start, demonstrating the strength of character that makes her a huge part of this Badger team.
Minnesota (Preseason #7)
2022 Result: #10 Rank; NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Conference: Big Ten
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #15 Baylor (8/26) Big Ten Network, #1 Texas (8/29) Big Ten Network, #11 Florida (9/3) ESPNU, #9 Oregon (9/8) PAC12 Network, #3 Stanford (9/9) PAC12 Network, #18 Creighton (9/16)
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: Minnesota is perennially one of the toughest teams in the toughest conference, and as you can see from their nonconference schedule, they do not shy away from a challenge. They are the first team on this list that didn’t lose a pair of key players to graduation… instead, they lost them to transfer (see Jenna Wenaas and Carter Booth in the Texas and Wisconsin previews above). And while Minnesota added some transfers, namely Ohio State’s libero Kylie Murr, it’s unclear where reinforcements are coming from. It doesn’t matter though, the real reason your family should love Minnesota is because of Taylor Landfair.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Taylor Landfair
Landfair is one of only two 2022 1st Team All American underclassmen to be returning in 2023 (there are a handful of players coming back for their fifth “covid eligibility” year). She had 479 kills in 2022 and 4.35 kills / set. She’ll be a Golden Gopher legend before she’s done and with the two new pro leagues set to start this year and next, she’ll be coming out of college right as they hit their stride.
Penn State (Preseason #8)
2022 Result: #11 Rank; NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Conference: Big Ten
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #11 Florida (8/25), #20 Georgia Tech (8/26), #24 Western Kentucky (9/1), #4 Lousiville (9/10) ESPN2
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: Like Wisconsin, Penn State has built their 2023 team by welcoming transfers from their biggest rivals. So… if you are okay with that approach to building a great team, then Penn State has arguably done the best job of it this year. NCAA.com’s Michella Chester says they “won” the transfer portal. It’s not just preseason All Big Ten selections Mac Podraza (Ohio State’s legendary setter) and Jess Mruzik (Michigan’s best player)… Penn State went out and got another setter in Camryn Hannah (Clemson) and a libero in Lina Perugini (Coastal Carolina).
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Allie Holland
We have a policy of not picking transfers in this category, and the senior middle blocker is your best bet for a returning Penn State player who will get major time on the court. Holland was an All Big Ten 1st Team selection in 2022 and led the team in blocks (158), performing consistently all year alongside another key returner in Taylor Trammell.
Oregon (Preseason #9)
2022 Result: #7 Rank; NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Conference: (2023) Pac-12, (2024 & Beyond) Big Ten
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #13 San Diego (8/25), #7 Minnesota (9/8) PAC12 Network, #14 Ohio State (9/9), #5 Pitt (9/14), #12 Marquette (9/17)
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: Oregon is the epitome of west coast cool, and their volleyball team has it in spades. The national freshman of the year returns in Mimi Colyer, who actually had more kills and more kills/set than Oregon legend Brooke Nuneviller last year (Nuneviller has gone on to sign with AU Volleyball and PVF’s Omaha Supernovas after appearing for the USA in the VNL Group Stages and the PanAm Cup this summer). Oregon replaced Nuneviller with Ohio State’s offensive leader, Gabby Gonzales, while also bringing in two transfer middle blockers: Kara McGhee (Baylor) and Onye Ofoegbu (UC Irvine). But perhaps the biggest reason you should love the Ducks is their dynamic class of freshpeople: they have seven new players in this group, including the HS players of the year from Idaho (outside hitter Alex Acevedo) and Minnesota (libero Kate Thibault), as well as two members of the USA U19 team that brought home the world cup this summer: Becca Kelley and Noemie Glover (Glover trained with the team but didn’t play). If this group stays together, this team’s chemistry could be crazy for the next several years!
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Mimi Colyer
Like Taylor Landfair at Minnesota, Mimi Colyer is impossible to ignore. She’s the best player by far, and always exudes the kind of energy that makes it feel like Oregon has a chance on any given point. Colyer was a 3rd Team All American last season, but it’s hard to imagine her going anywhere but up from here.
Florida (Preseason #11)
2022 Result: #12 Rank; NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Conference: SEC
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #8 Penn State (8/25), #3 Stanford (8/29) PAC12 Network, #7 Minnesota (9/3) ESPNU, #2 Wisconsin (9/17) ESPN2
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: By all accounts, Florida is an outstanding defensive team, so if you enjoy that brand of volleyball, this is your squad! Florida lost two stalwarts to the transfer portal in middle blocker Bre Kelley (Pitt) and outside hitter Merritt Beason (Nebraska), but Gabbi Essix and Anna Dixon were respectively putting up equivalent numbers alongside them last year and should continue to shine this season. Like Oregon, Florida had a phenom freshperson break out last year in setter Alexis Stucky, and it will be exciting to see how she (and the team) grows with her maturation.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Alexis Stucky
Stucky is tough. She played in almost every set as a freshperson last year and put up great numbers across the board defensively. She’s a natural leader and is not likely to ever come out of the game. She was SEC freshman of the year and, like Colyer, a 3rd Team All American who is part of the USA player pool. She’s also a cowgirl and competitive horse rider!
San Diego (Preseason #13)
2022 Result: #3 Rank; NCAA Tournament Semifinalists
Conference: West Coast Conference
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: San Diego was last year’s breakout team, and despite convincing nonconference wins against Pitt, Hawai’i, Ohio State, Utah, and UCLA, many people were doubtful about their true credentials… until they battled through top-seeded Stanford to make it to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. Grad transfer Gabby Blossom (AU Volleyball, Columbus Fury of PVF, USA) was a huge part of that run, so it remains to be seen whether the Toreros can pick up where they left off. And with just a couple of major transfers coming in (setter Anni Evans from Nebraska and outside hitter Amber Stivrins from Georgia), San Diego can still appropriately be considered underdogs. If you love a Cinderella story, keep your eye on SD, as we will likely have to wait until the tournament to see if they have what it takes again since the West Coast Conference was a bit of a cruise for them last year—they went through 14 matches without dropping a set.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Leyla Blackwell
Middle blocker Leyla Blackwell is ice cold. She was a huge part of that big 3-2 upset of Stanford in the Elite Eight, and will be a big part (again) of the Torero’s success in 2023.
Hawaii (Preseason Unranked)
2022 Result: Unranked; Lost in 1st Rd of NCAA Tournament
Conference: Big West
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: The Big West has sneaky-good competition in a lot of sports, including volleyball. And the Rainbow Wahine have been dominant in the Big West, as conference champions in five of the last seven seasons (they are projected to win their fourth straight this year). Hawai’i went out in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, perhaps unexpectedly, against a strong LSU team. They’ll want revenge. They return almost their entire 2022 team, so it’s reasonable to assume they’ll hit the ground running. They also add Paula Guersching from Youngstown State, who was fifth in total kills nationally last year (576) as unquestionably the Horizon League’s best player last year.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Amber Igiede
The Baton Rouge native is the heart and soul of the Rainbow Wahine as a senior this year, and was proud to be part of the USA player pool this summer. She’s the reigning Big West Player of the Year and a 3rd Team All American, and this year she’ll likely push her way into the top 3 of several different school record books, including hitting percentage, where she recorded a .433 last year (fifth in the country).
USC (Preseason #22)
2022 Result: Unranked, Lost in 2nd Rd of NCAA Tournament
Conference: (2023) Pac-12, (2024 & Beyond) Big Ten
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #19 Houston (8/25), #23 Rice (8/26), #13 San Diego (9/10), #16 Purdue (9/15) Big Ten Network
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: 1st Team All American Skylar Fields is back for a fifth “covid eligibility” year after racking up 598 kills last year (2nd in the nation) and 5.11 kills / set (5th in the nation). She’s quite literally in a class of her own. What will be cool to watch this year is how she brings along the young core of rising sophomores at USC after losing three other offensive stars to graduation. Add in young London Wijay, the freshperson phenom who reclassified to join USC a year early this fall (as well as three other 2023 recruits), and this year will be a great one to watch a literal passing of the torch.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Skylar Fields
Like Taylor Landfair and Mimi Colyer above, Skylar Fields is a dominant force who is simply mesmerizing to watch. The poetry of her swing is something to behold.
Purdue (Preseason #16)
2022 Result: #20 Rank; Lost in the 2nd Rd of NCAA Tournament
Conference: Big Ten
Marquee Nonconference Matches: #18 Creighton (8/26), #12 Marquette (9/1), #10 Kentucky or #19 Houston (9/9), #22 USC (9/15),
Why They Should Be Your Family’s Favorite Team: Quite simply, Purdue has the most exciting young core in the country. While they do return experienced fifth-year libero Maddie Schermerhorn and stalwart middle blocker junior Raven Colvin (as well as Denver transfer setter Lorrin Poulter), this team belongs to sophomore outside hitter Eva Hudson and the third-ranked recruiting 2023 class, featuring local girl and arguably the top recruit in the country, Chloe Chicoine. Hudson and Chicoine are among nine homegrown Indiana stars playing at Purdue this year, so the Boilermakers are your team if you love a college that recruits locally and lets their young players play! The six-deep 2023 class includes three players from VolleyballMag.com’s Fab 50 list, including the #1 setter in the nation in San Antonio’s Taylor Anderson and Grace Heaney of Omaha.
Probably Your Family’s Favorite Player? Eva Hudson
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year recorded 515 kills (16th in the nation) to lead the Boilermakers last year, with Mimi Colyer the only freshperson recording more. She is a fiery player and it’ll be exciting to see what she does alongside the rest of this young core. It is not an understatement to say that Hudson, alongside this young core—especially Chicoine, Anderson, and Heaney—are the foundation for the emergence of Purdue as a Big Ten powerhouse. The competition is only going to get more fierce with the addition of USC and Oregon next year, but Purdue is definitely a program to watch!
If we missed your favorite team, we are sorry! Shoot us a message at ameer@girldadsports.net and we’ll include them next year! Follow @girldadsports on Twitter for updates on your favorite women’s sports events, links to great stories, and reminders to tune in!
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