2025 slate boasts the most matches ever across ESPN, ABC
24 of the top 25 AVCA preseason teams to make appearances across ESPN platforms
The long-awaited college volleyball season is back and bigger than ever with ESPN serving up the best matches, storylines and players all fall long, beginning with the AVCA First Serve Showcase on Sunday, Aug. 24.
ESPN continues to be at the helm of women’s sports coverage, with more than 2,600 women’s college volleyball matches slated for ESPN platforms this fall – the largest total in ESPN history. This season also boasts the most matches ever across ESPN and ABC. Matches featuring 13 of the top 15 from the 2025 preseason rankings are slated for ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACCNX.
The season jumpstarts with the aforementioned AVCA First Serve Showcase in Lincoln, Neb. on Aug. 24, with four perennial powerhouses taking the court. 2024 National Semifinalist Pittsburgh takes on Florida at 1 p.m. ET, followed by Stanford vs. host and National Semifinalist Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. – with both matches airing on ESPN. New this season, ESPN will produce a studio show between matches to cover all the action from Lincoln.
The second weekend of play features the inaugural Broadway Block Party, ESPN Events’ owned-and-operated volleyball invitational at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The three matches on Aug. 31 showcase Big Ten vs. SEC battles, with the first match between Nebraska and Kentucky airing on ABC (noon ET). Immediately following at 3 p.m., Purdue takes on Tennessee on ESPN2, while Vanderbilt – in its first season of play – closes out of the day against Illinois on SEC Network at 6 p.m.
Additionally, ESPN Events will also have its first ‘Showdown at the Net’ on Sept. 9-10, with eight of the 16 ACC-SEC matchups airing on linear platforms. As part of the challenge series, the Shriners Children’s ‘Showdown at the Net’ will highlight a four-team showcase at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on Sept. 10. Pitt, Kentucky, Louisville and Texas will face off in those two ACC/SEC clashes, with the Pitt Panthers slated to take on the Kentucky Wildcats at 6:30 p.m. ET, and the Louisville Cardinals and Texas Longhorns to follow at 9 p.m. Both matches will air on ESPN.
2024 National Runner-Up Louisville is slated to appear across ESPN platforms just shy of a dozen times throughout the fall, while National Semifinalists Nebraska and Pittsburgh will both continue to make national waves with their linear appearances, beginning with the AVCA First Serve.
The Huskers lead a loaded lineup with 24 of the 25 teams from the AVCA preseason poll showcased on ESPN platforms this fall, including: No. 1 Nebraska, No. 3 Pittsburgh, No. 4 Louisville, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Kentucky, No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 9 Texas A&M, No. 10 SMU, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 12 Creighton, No. 13 Arizona State, No. 14 Kansas, No. 15 Purdue, No. 16 Florida, No. 17 Missouri, No. 18 UCLA, No. 19 BYU, No. 20 Baylor, No. 21 Southern California, No. 22 Georgia Tech, No. 23 Utah, No. 24 Dayton and No. 25 TCU.
ESPN+ is home to a plethora of matchups throughout the 2025 season, highlighting multiple top 25 teams. During the fall, viewers can catch Top-25 battles on ESPN+, including No. 14 Kansas at No. 25 TCU (Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m.), No. 23 Utah at No. 13 Arizona State (Oct. 4, 3 p.m.), No. 20 Baylor at No. 13 Arizona State (Oct. 10, 9 p.m.) and No. 23 Utah at No. 18 BYU (Nov. 26, 8 p.m.). No. 11 Minnesota, No. 12 Creighton, No. 21 USC and No. 24 Dayton will also make appearances on ESPN+ throughout the fall.
The 2025 season will conclude with ESPN again showcasing the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament in its entirety. The national semifinals begin Thursday, Dec. 18 on ESPN, with the first semifinal airing at 6:30 p.m. and the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first. Then for the third straight year, the national championship will broadcast live on ABC from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. on Sunday, Dec. 21.
2025 NCAA VOLLEYBALL ON ESPN
Date
Time (ET)
Game
Platform
Sun, Aug 24
1 p.m.
AVCA First Serve No. 3 Pittsburgh vs. No. 16 Florida
ESPN
Sun, Aug 24
3:30 p.m.
AVCA First Serve No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 6 Stanford
ESPN
Fri, Aug 29
8 p.m.
Belmont at Vanderbilt
SEC Network
Sun, Aug 31
12 p.m.
Broadway Block Party No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 7 Kentucky
ABC
Sun, Aug 31
3 p.m.
Broadway Block Party No. 15 Purdue vs. Tennessee
ESPN2
Sun, Aug 31
6 p.m.
Broadway Block Party Vanderbilt vs. Illinois
SEC Network
Thu, Sep 4
8 p.m.
No. 9 Texas A&M at No. 23 Utah
ESPN2
Thu, Sep 4
8 p.m.
Washington at No. 10 SMU
ACC Network
Fri, Sep 5
7 p.m.
No. 18 UCLA at No. 25 TCU
ESPNU
Sun, Sep 7
1 p.m.
No. 6 Stanford at No. 5 Texas
ESPN
Sun, Sep 7
3 p.m.
Illinois at No. 4 Louisville
ESPN
Tue, Sep 9
6:30 p.m.
Showdown at the Net No. 22 Georgia Tech at Tennessee
SEC Network
Tue, Sep 9
7 p.m.
Showdown at the Net No. 9 Texas A&M at No. 10 SMU
ESPN2
Tue, Sep 9
7 p.m.
Showdown at the Net No. 16 Florida at North Carolina
ACC Network
Tue, Sep 9
9:30 p.m.
Showdown at the Net No. 6 Stanford at No. 17 Missouri
ESPN
Wed, Sep 10
6 p.m.
Showdown at the Net South Carolina at NC State
ACC Network
Wed, Sep 10
6:30 p.m.
Showdown at the Net No. 3 Pittsburgh at No. 7 Kentucky
ESPN
Wed, Sep 10
7 p.m.
Showdown at the Net Florida State at Oklahoma
SEC Network
Wed, Sep 10
9 p.m.
Showdown at the Net No. 4 Louisville at No. 5 Texas
ESPN
Fri, Sep 12
7 p.m.
No. 8 Wisconsin at No. 22 Georgia Tech
ESPN2
Sun, Sep 14
1 p.m.
No. 20 Baylor at No. 16 Florida
ESPN2
Sun, Sep 14
3 p.m.
No. 13 Arizona State at No. 5 Texas
ESPN2
Wed, Sep 17
9 p.m.
No. 25 TCU at No. 5 Texas
ESPNU
Thu, Sep 18
6 p.m.
No. 7 Kentucky at No. 4 Louisville
ESPNU
Fri, Sep 19
7 p.m.
No. 20 Baylor at No. 5 Texas
SEC Network
Wed, Sep 24
7 p.m.
South Carolina at No. 7 Kentucky
SEC Network
Wed, Sep 24
7 p.m.
No. 17 Missouri at No. 9 Texas A&M
ESPNU
Wed, Sep 24
8 p.m.
No. 3 Pittsburgh at No. 10 SMU
ACC Network
Wed, Sep 24
9 p.m.
Vanderbilt at No. 5 Texas
SEC Network
Fri, Sep 26
7 p.m.
Alabama at Auburn
SEC Network
Fri, Sep 26
8 p.m.
No. 13 Arizona State at No. 14 Kansas
ESPNU
Sun, Sep 28
1 p.m.
Ole Miss at Oklahoma
SEC Network
Sun, Sep 28
1 p.m.
Arizona at No. 14 Kansas
ESPN
Sun, Sep 28
1:30 p.m.
California at Virginia
ACC Network
Sun, Sep 28
3 p.m.
No. 10 SMU at No. 3 Pittsburgh
ESPN
Wed, Oct 1
7 p.m.
No. 9 Texas A&M at South Carolina
SEC Network
Wed, Oct 1
7 p.m.
Duke at North Carolina
ACC Network
Fri, Oct 3
7 p.m.
No. 7 Kentucky at Ole Miss
SEC Network
Sun, Oct 5
12 p.m.
No. 22 Georgia Tech at No. 3 Pittsburgh
ACC Network
Sun, Oct 5
1 p.m.
Georgia at South Carolina
SEC Network
Sun, Oct 5
5 p.m.
No. 4 Louisville at No. 6 Stanford
ESPN
Wed, Oct 8
7 p.m.
No. 7 Kentucky at No. 9 Texas A&M
SEC Network
Wed, Oct 8
7 p.m.
NC State at Wake Forest
ACC Network
Fri, Oct 10
7 p.m.
Ole Miss at Mississippi State
SEC Network
Sun, Oct 12
1 p.m.
No. 7 Kentucky at LSU
ESPN
Sun, Oct 12
1:30 p.m.
No. 10 SMU at Miami
ACC Network
Sun, Oct. 12
3 p.m.
No. 3 Pittsburgh at Florida State
ESPN
Wed, Oct 15
7 p.m.
No. 16 Florida at Tennessee
SEC Network
Wed, Oct 15
7 p.m.
Virginia at Virginia Tech
ACC Network
Fri, Oct 17
7 p.m.
Alabama at Georgia
SEC Network
Fri, Oct 17
9 p.m.
Hawaii at Long Beach State
ESPNU
Sun, Oct 19
1 p.m.
No. 3 Pittsburgh at No. 4 Louisville
ESPN
Sun, Oct 19
2 p.m.
North Carolina at Syracuse
ACC Network
Sun, Oct 19
3 p.m.
LSU at No. 17 Missouri
SEC Network
Sun, Oct 19
3 p.m.
No. 16 Florida at No. 7 Kentucky
ESPN
Sun, Oct 19
8:30 p.m.
Oklahoma at No. 5 Texas
ESPN
Wed, Oct 22
7 p.m.
Arkansas at Auburn
SEC Network
Wed, Oct 22
7 p.m.
Syracuse at Boston College
ACC Network
Fri, Oct 24
8 p.m.
No. 5 Texas at Ole Miss
SEC Network
Fri, Oct 24
9 p.m.
Kansas State at No. 14 Kansas
ESPNU
Sun, Oct 26
12 p.m.
No. 6 Stanford at No. 22 Georgia Tech
ACC Network
Sun, Oct 26
1 p.m.
Auburn at Oklahoma
SEC Network
Sun, Oct 26
1 p.m.
No. 16 Florida at Arkansas
ESPN
Sun, Oct 26
3 p.m.
No. 4 Louisville at North Carolina
ESPN
Wed, Oct 29
7 p.m.
Arkansas at Oklahoma
SEC Network
Wed, Oct 29
7 p.m.
No. 4 Louisville at Notre Dame
ACC Network
Wed, Oct 29
9 p.m.
No. 25 TCU at No. 13 Arizona State
ESPNU
Thu, Oct 30
10 p.m.
Loyola Marymount at Pepperdine
ESPNU
Fri, Oct 31
6 p.m.
No. 10 SMU at North Carolina
ACC Network
Sun, Nov 2
12 p.m.
Princeton at Brown
ESPNU
Sun, Nov 2
1 p.m.
No. 7 Kentucky at No. 5 Texas
ESPN
Sun, Nov 2
1:30 p.m.
No. 3 Pittsburgh at North Carolina
ACC Network
Sun, Nov 2
3 p.m.
No. 9 Texas A&M at Tennessee
ESPN2
Wed, Nov 5
7 p.m.
Alabama at Arkansas
SEC Network
Wed, Nov 5
7 p.m.
Florida State at Miami
ACC Network
Fri, Nov 7
7 p.m.
No. 5 Texas at No. 16 Florida
SEC Network
Sun, Nov 9
1 p.m.
Virginia at No. 3 Pittsburgh
ACC Network
Sun, Nov 9
4 p.m.
No. 23 Utah at No. 20 Baylor
ESPNU
Sun, Nov 9
4:30 p.m.
Tennessee at No. 7 Kentucky
SEC Network
Wed, Nov 12
7 p.m.
LSU at Georgia
SEC Network
Wed, Nov 12
7 p.m.
No. 22 Georgia Tech at Clemson
ACC Network
Thu, Nov 13
7 p.m.
Florida State at No. 4 Louisville
ACC Network
Fri, Nov 14
7 p.m.
No. 17 Missouri at Mississippi State
SEC Network
Sun, Nov 16
1 p.m.
Oklahoma at Tennessee
SEC Network
Sun, Nov 16
1 p.m.
Miami at No. 4 Louisville
ACC Network
Sun, Nov 16
3 p.m.
Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
SEC Network
Sun, Nov 16
5 p.m.
No. 10 SMU at No. 6 Stanford
ESPN2
Fri, Nov 21
12 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament First Round
SEC Network
Fri, Nov 21
2:30 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament First Round
SEC Network
Fri, Nov 21
5 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament First Round
SEC Network
Fri, Nov 21
7:30 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament First Round
SEC Network
Sat, Nov 22
12 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Second Round
SEC Network+
Sat, Nov 22
2:30 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Second Round
SEC Network+
Sat, Nov 22
5 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Second Round
SEC Network+
Sat, Nov 22
7:30 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Second Round
SEC Network+
Sun, Nov 23
12 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Quarterfinals
SEC Network
Sun, Nov 23
1 p.m.
No. 4 Louisville at Clemson
ACC Network
Sun, Nov 23
2:30 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Quarterfinals
SEC Network
Sun, Nov 23
5 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Quarterfinals
SEC Network
Sun, Nov 23
7:30 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Quarterfinals
SEC Network
Mon, Nov 24
6 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Semifinals
SEC Network
Mon, Nov 24
8:30 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Semifinals
SEC Network
Tue, Nov 25
7 p.m.
SEC Volleyball Tournament Championship
SEC Network
Wed, Nov 26
7 p.m.
No. 4 Louisville at No. 3 Pittsburgh
ACC Network
All of ESPN. All in One Place. Coming August 21. For the first time ever, ESPN will offer its full suite of networks and services directly to fans, along with an enhanced ESPN App that integrates game stats, betting information, fantasy sports, commerce, multiview options and a personalized SportsCenter For You. Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, these new features and functionality will be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package. For more visit the ESPN DTC Press Kit.
The Appalachian Newspapers’ 2025 All Mountain Volleyball Team is comprised of players from the 15th Region, Jenkins, Buckhorn, Knott Central, Perry Central, Hazard and Letcher Central.
The 2025 All-Mountain Volleyball Team was voted upon by the Appalachian Newspapers’ Randy White, Steve LeMaster and Adam Mahan.
All Mountain
Volleyball Player of the Year nominees:
Kylie Kinner — Paintsville
Miley Riddle — Shelby Valley
Lindy Gearheart — Pikeville
Taylor Baker — Knott Central
All Mountain Volleyball
Player of the Year
Miley Riddle — Shelby Valley: Riddle had an outstanding junior season. She led the state in kills with 838 (Paintsville’s Kylie Kinner finished second with 828). Riddle helped Shelby Valley to its most successful season in school history as the Lady Wildcats finished the season with a 34-6 record. Shelby Valley won the 15th Region All “A” Classic and advanced to the state All “A” Classic Bronze Division finals, the 59th District Tournament, their first-ever 15th Region Tournament championship, a win over Knott Central in the opening round of the KHSAA Volleyball State Tournament and an appearance in the state volleyball quarterfinals.
All Mountain Coach of
the Year nominees:
Misty Riddle — Shelby Valley
Dawn Kinner — Paintsville
Shae Cornett — Knott Central
All Mountain Coach
of the Year:
Misty Riddle — Shelby Valley: Riddle helped Shelby Valley to its most successful season in school history as the Lady Wildcats finished the season with a 34-6 record. Shelby Valley won the 15th Region All “A” Classic and advanced to the state All “A” Classic Bronze Division finals, the 59th District Tournament, their first-ever 15th Region Tournament championship, a win over Knott Central in the opening round of the KHSAA Volleyball State Tournament and an appearance in the state volleyball quarterfinals.
The new year will begin with a significant showcase for a player who could mean a lot to the Kansas volleyball team down the line.
Right-side hitter Taylor Stanley, a 2026 signee, will take part in the Under Armour All-America Game, an all-star match that purports to feature “the 28 best high school volleyball players in the country, hands down.” The event will take place at The Venue at UCF in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday and is set for livestreams on ESPN+ and the SportsCenter Next YouTube channel beginning at 3 p.m. Central Time.
Stanley will wear No. 23 for Team Roses, which is led by longtime Texas, USC and United States national team coach Mick Haley, as one of seven pin hitters on its roster. She is the only Kansan or KU pledge taking part in the event.
Stanley stands 6-foot-3 and has played for Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park and the KC Power club team.
“Taylor definitely represents the best player in the area, and she’s choosing to be at her home school, and she wants to be a Jayhawk, KU coach Matt Ulmer said in a VBAdrenaline livestream for signing day, “and again hopefully people will want to follow that.”
She signed with KU in November and, according to her school newspaper, is set to enroll early, meaning she will join the Jayhawks not long after taking part in the All-America Game. VBAdrenaline.com ranks Stanley as the No. 12 overall player in the class and the No. 1 opposite.
“I don’t know what you don’t like about her,” Ulmer said on the livestream. “I really think there’s everything that you would want in an opposite. She can absolutely bring that. She can also score from the left, she can score from the back row, I mean, she’s going to be a six-rotation point scorer, and we know the names of the people that can do that at a high level, and I think that’s what she can bring.”
She has spent time representing the U.S. at the youth level, as she played with the under-19 national team, which competed above its age group at the 2025 FIVB Women’s U21 World Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia, in August. The U.S. went 7-2 with a ninth-place finish.
At KU, Stanley will be part of a six-player class that also includes pin hitters Tessa Dodd, Avery Poulton and Ryan Sadler and middle blockers Cydnee Bryant and Jaeli Rutledge. She may see significant action right away on the right side, in part because of the qualities Ulmer described and in part because of the offseason departure of all-conference opposite Jovana Zelenović.
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Written By Henry Greenstein
Henry is the sports editor at the Lawrence Journal-World and KUsports.com, and serves as the KU beat writer while managing day-to-day sports coverage. He previously worked as a sports reporter at The Bakersfield Californian and is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis (B.A., Linguistics) and Arizona State University (M.A., Sports Journalism). Though a native of Los Angeles, he has frequently been told he does not give off “California vibes,” whatever that means.
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Athletics recognized two student-athletes as the Wolters Kluwer Athletes of the Month for December. Men’s Basketball sophomore guard Luke Winkel (Ankeny, Iowa) was named Male Athlete of the Month while Volleyball junior outside hitter Shelby Kimm (North Liberty, Iowa) was named Female Athlete of the Month for their performances during the month.
Luke Winkel’s December Highlights
Averaged 22.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.5 assists.
Shot 44.7% from the field, 43.6% from three, and 74.2% from the free throw line.
Tallied his first career double-double with 27 points and 11 assists against Wayne State.
Scored a then career-high 29 points against Concordia-St. Paul to go with six assists.
Totaled a new career-high of 30 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Sioux Falls.
Helped lead the Huskies to a 5-0 start in the NSIC for the first time since 2008-09.
SCSU went 4-2 in December and are tied for third in the NSIC with a 5-2 conference record.
Currently fourth in the NSIC in scoring and assists.
Produced 19 digs and seven kills in the Huskies 3-1 win over No. 17 Missouri Western in the NCAA Round of 64/Central Region Quarterfinals. Her 19 digs were tied for the second most in a single match this season and it was her sixth straight match with double digit digs.
Recorded 11 kills and eight digs in SCSU’s 3-1 win over No. 2 and Central Region Host, Nebraska Kearney in the NCAA Round of 32/Central Region Semifinals. It was her 21st match with 10+ kills.
Notched an 18-dig, 13-kill double-double with three block assists in the Huskies five-set loss to No. 6 Concordia-St. Paul in the NCAA Sweet 16/Central Region Championship. It was her 17th double-double of the season. It was also her fifth match with 18+ digs and her 13th match with 13+ kills.
Named to the AVCA All-America Second Team, AVCA All-Central Region Second Team, D2CCA All-Central Region First Team and NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team.
Named to CSC Academic All-District® Team, NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence and NSIC All-Academic Team.
Helped the Huskies earn a No. 5 ranking in the final AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Poll for the second consecutive season and third time in program history.
Helped SCSU tie its program record for NCAA Tournament wins in a season with two and advance to the NCAA Round of 16/Central Region Championship for the second consecutive season and third time in the past four seasons.
2025-2026 Wolters Kluwer Athletes of the Month September
October
Austin Burnevik (Men’s Hockey)
Ellie Primerano (Women’s Soccer)
November
Dominic Ducato (Wrestling)
Jaylee Strickland (Women’s Soccer)
December
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Athletics, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the Huskies on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Three incoming Nebraska volleyball student-athletes will compete in the 2026 Under Armour Next All-America Match on New Year’s Day at The Venue on the campus of UCF in Orlando.
Gabby DiVita will play on Team Pearls, while Jayden Robinson and Keoni Williams will be on Team Roses.
The Under Armour Next All-America Match will be streamed live on the SCNext YouTube Channel at 3:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 1, with ESPNU re-airing the event at 6 p.m. CT on Jan. 4.
The Under Armour Next All-America match features some of the nation’s best high school seniors as they prepare to join some of the top college volleyball programs in the country. This elite class has committed to 16 different colleges.
Oakwood’s Isabelle Anderson sets the ball to a teammate during the Hawks’ 2025 season. Photo: Courtesy of Anna-Liza Anderson
Oakwood School emphasizes its strong academics. The Morgan Hill school is seeing its athletic teams excel too. On the girls side, coach Anna-Liza Anderson’s volleyball program just racked up another superb season.
In 2025, the Hawks reached new heights with its fourth straight strong year. Behind two-time unanimous league MVP Isabelle Anderson and a solid young group of teammates, the Hawks finished 20-6 overall and tied Notre Dame Salinas for the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Santa Lucia Division title with a 13-1 mark.
Since 2021, Oakwood has fielded a 70-25 record, 42-8 in league play. The 2025 season began with high hopes but with some rebuilding and construction to do.
“Half the team was new,” co-captain Isabelle Anderson said. “Only having four seniors, we performed very well. Our goal was to be league champion.”
Anderson, a 5-11 senior, directed the offense to the tune of 510 assists, 7.1 per set. She delivered 138 aces from the serving line, an amazing average of two per set, ranking first in both the Central Coast Section and the state of California, and No. 11 in national stats.
Major contributions also came from co-captain libero Nalani Goulart, whose on-the-mark passing was a crucial foundation to the Hawks’ success. The junior racked up 259 digs, which led the league.
Junior outside hitter Sophia Fieler paced the Hawks on the attack with 262 kills, a phenomenal 10.1 average per match, tops in league. Both Goulart and Fieler joined Anderson in receiving First Team All-League recognition.
Senior Gianna Garcia delivered 139 kills to supplement the offense and received Second Team plaudits. Contributions in the middle were key to diversifying the offense and providing blocking at the net. That effort was led by junior Olivia Wong and sophomore Sophia Wong.
Defensive help in the back row came from Camilla Mendoza and Jocelyn Velasco. Depth was provided by Gabriella Zelenyak, Arya Vaid and Georgia Alves.
“It’s also a very mental game,” coach Anderson said. “I engage all the players. I tell them in any given moment, they need to be ready. We’re doing this together.”
It all started with Isabelle Anderson, coach Anderson’s daughter. Goulart provided the crucial complement in the back row.
“Those two are my captains,” coach Anderson said. “Isabelle’s competitive level helps the whole team. She makes a play out of every single ball. She makes sure our hitters get the kills. She is also our strongest hitter. People can’t get her hits up.”
Isabelle Anderson looked to rip kills when opportunities provided themselves. She totaled 114, turning on second balls or as a right side option. The versatile Goulart helped by setting Anderson when feasible.
“Nalani is fearless,” coach Anderson said. “She has a great platform and that aids her in her passing. She is an amazing passer and can also set.”
The two co-captains recognized the synergy and cohesion.
“She (Nalani) makes setting easier,” Isabelle Anderson said. “She makes accurate passes. The last two seasons, we’ve had a great feng shui connection.”
Goulart has confidence that Isabelle Anderson will distribute to different hitters, even if the pass is not entirely on target.
“On any pass I make, she can do something out of it,” Goulart said. “She can always turn it into something the offense can use.”
Non-league matches provided strong competition and toughened the team. Highlights included sweeps of Mt. Madonna and Everett Alvarez, along with tournament victories over North Monterey County, North Salinas and Marina. The latter four were in a higher PCAL division and Mt. Madonna is a member of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, a league two levels higher.
The squad jelled quickly. In league play, the Hawks routed York and Trinity before colliding with powerful Monterey Bay Academy. In that home contest, Oakwood rallied past MBA 25-14, 22-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-12. Fieler shined with 15 kills and Garcia added nine.
Anderson smacked seven kills, served 10 aces and had five blocks. Mendoza and Zelenyak provided extensive contributions in the back row defense.
A big highlight came two weeks later with a Sept. 25 win over Notre Dame Salinas, 25-16, 20-25, 25-19, 25-16. Fieler was on fire with 21 kills. Olivia Wong had five blocks and Garcia had four blocks. Anderson served seven aces. Goulart had 24 digs and 15 serve receives.
Later in the year, Oakwood lost a rematch with Notre Dame Salinas but outlasted MBA on the road. The Oct. 7 road victory over MBA was crucial to avoiding dropping back in the league race. The Hawks prevailed via a reverse sweep, 19-25, 22-25, 25-16, 30-28, 15-11.
The gym was roaring as MBA won the first two sets. Oakwood responded with a dominant third set.
“We had nothing to lose,” Goulart said. “We came together as a team. After the third set, we kept the energy going.”
That they did. Coach Anderson also made defensive adjustments. Fieler was ripping kills line and cross, on her way to a 17-kill night. Anderson served 10 aces and had five blocks.
“There was a lot of back and forth,” Isabelle Anderson said. “As a team we worked together and used the energy for us. Everyone played their part.”
The Hawks won a dramatic fourth set 30-28 and carried the momentum into a 15-11 fifth for the victory and a joyous ride back to Morgan Hill.
The end result was a co-championship with Notre Dame, with MBA back in third place. Further behind in the division were York, Trinity, Ceiba, Chartwell, Kirby Prep and Anzar.
Personal landmark efforts during the year were many. Fieler, who closed the season with nine or more kills in each of the last 12 matches, put down 22 kills against Soledad and 21 in the first match with Notre Dame.
Garcia smashed 15 kills in the second Notre Dame game and had nine or 10 on five other occasions. Anderson served 10 aces in six matches and hit her high mark of 11 against Everett Alvarez. Goulart had 31 digs and 30 digs in the two York matches. She also had 24 and 25 respectively against ND Salinas.
Both Isabelle Anderson and Goulart complimented coach Anderson’s approach.
“She’s a really good coach,” Goulart said. “She helps me play better. She pushes us all to do better. It’s fun yet she knows when it’s time to be serious.”
Goulart noted that coach Anderson’s even-keel demeanor on the sideline was very helpful. Isabelle Anderson commented that she and the team have learned resiliency.
They both noted that the volleyball program and coach Anderson’s leadership have helped them with perseverance and mental toughness, along with off-the-court benefits such as time management.
“It’s like a family,” coach Anderson said. “I want to build strong, confident, accountable girls. Push them a little outside their comfort zone. Oakwood is strong with academics. Yet one can balance the academics with athletics. I want to challenge them at a different level.”
