Charlotte Opens 2025 Season on Friday in Rock Hill

“This team is full of competitors and good student athletes on and off the court,” said Jenkins. “Each day they come to practice ready to compete. The energy throughout preseason has been great. We are excited to watch these girls grow throughout the course of the season. We have challenged them throughout the spring and preseason. Contending in the conference tournament is a goal for us and our team is motivated to get off to a great start in the season.”

NEW FACES

Jenkins signed a class of seven freshmen and two transfers to total nine of the 17 players on the roster as new faces. Jovana Antic, Nicolette Connell, Elena Kovacevic, Milena Lopez, Lilly Howell, Tewa Woodson, and Sofia Locadia represent the freshman class of 2025.

“Jovana Antic has been impressive during workouts thus far,” said Jenkins. “Her work ethic is outstanding in the middle, and we will have to find her the ball more this season.”

Annika Thompson spent the 2024 season with UNCW’s beach volleyball team after being a Charlotte 49er from 2020-23. With the 49ers, Thompson totaled 1,107 assists and 561 digs across 90 matches played. Her career single game-highs are 26 assists and 25 digs. She also provides a strong presence on the net, totaling five blocks in two different games in the 2023 season.

A Tarzana, California native, Jaylen Jordan comes to Charlotte by way of Long Beach State. In three seasons with LBSU, Jordan played in 30 matches and totaled 183 kills. In 2022, she notched a career-high 22 kills, 13 digs, and four blocks to set new single game bests. Jordan has been named to the team’s leadership committee along with Thompson, Jessica Ricks, and Amaya Roberson.

“Jaylen has been a great leader and role model for the team so far,” said Jenkins. “She is competitive and comes from a volleyball family. Her energy on the court will be fun to watch.”

PRESEASON HONORS

Kristen Birmingham was named to the American Preseason All-Conference team after a solid 2024 campaign. In her first season with the Niners, Birmingham led Charlotte with 349 kills and 270 digs while being third on the team with 11 solo blocks. She totaled 11 double-doubles (kills and digs) with her season high of kills in a single game being 25.

“Kristen is coming off a great season last year and I am excited to watch her compete and build on that in 2025,” said Jenkins.

OTHER KEY RETURNERS

Jessica Ricks was also a key contributor last season for Charlotte, starting in 24 of 29 games played. She was second on the team with 264 kills, totaling 160 digs and 44 total blocks. She recorded 18 kills and 16 digs in the win at Tulane. For the season, she finished with four double-doubles, seven games with double-digit digs, and 11 games with double-digit kills.

Selanny Puente started in 27 games during her first season as a 49er. She was second on the team with 88 total blocks including a season high eight blocks vs. UNC Asheville. Puente had 15 kills in the win over UTSA and recorded a season-high 17 digs vs. N.C. Central. She had three games with double digit kills and was second on the team with 30 service aces.

Maddie Stuesser led the team with 498 assists in her freshman season. Her season-high 46 assists came in the five-set win at Tulane during conference play. Stuesser had three games with double digit digs and four games with 30+ assists. She finished the season with 25 service aces and recorded a solo block in each of the final two games of the regular season.

SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY

W&M ended the 2024 season with four straight wins, its longest winning streak since 2022. The program has put together three straight seasons of 10 or more victories, the longest streak since an eight-year stretch from 2003 to 2010.

This season, W&M had a pair of seniors named to the Preseason All-CAA squad in middle blocker Olivia Esposito and outside hitter Nicole Smith. For Esposito, it marked her second straight year earning preseason all-conference accolades. William & Mary was one of two programs (Hofstra and Towson) to have multiple players selected. The Green & Gold are predicted to finish sixth in the CAA coaches’ poll.

SCOUTING WINTHROP

For the first time since 2007, the Winthrop Eagles were picked to finish first in the Big South Preseason Poll. Winthrop finished last season with a 16-11 overall record, holding a 12-2 mark in Big South Conference play, earning the second seed in the 2024 Big South Championship tournament. In the first three seasons led by head coach Heather Gearhart, Winthrop has posted a conference winning percentage of .818 on their way to two Big South title match berths. 

Avery Jolley was honored with the Big South Preseason Player of the Year. The 2024 First-Team All-Conference and Big South Female Scholar Athlete of the Year awardee returns for her senior campaign after finishing second in the conference for kills per set with 3.64 and third in attacks per set with 11.39. Jolley played in all 27 matches for the Eagles, with 19 matches in double figures in kills, 12 matches in double figures in digs and ten matches with a double-double. 

In addition to Jolley, Isabella Murray was named the Setter of the Year, Sophia Matthews the co-Libero of the Year, and Giselle Little to the all-conference team.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

For all of the latest news and updates surrounding Charlotte Volleyball, follow the Niners on social media at @CharlotteWVB on Instagram and X.

First serve versus William & Mary is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Live stats are available here although the match will not be streamed. Saturday’s 6:00 p.m. contest versus Winthrop will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats also available here.