BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson and head volleyball coach Steve Aird have agreed to a contract extension through the 2031 season. Aird, who will enter his ninth season in 2026, guided the Hoosiers to 20+ win seasons in two of the last three years.
 
“We are very excited to announce that we have agreed to a new contract with IU volleyball coach Steve Aird,” Dolson said. “When we brought Steve to Bloomington, we did so with the belief and goal that the program could compete at a very high level in the Big Ten and nationally. Steve is turning that vision into reality.”
 
Aird and the Hoosiers are coming off the most successful season in program history. During the 2025 campaign, IU broke single-season records in the NCAA era for wins (25), regular season wins (23), Big Ten wins (14), road wins (9) and ranked road wins (3). IU finished in the top five of the Big Ten for the first time since 1999.
 
“This past year was historic. In addition to our program-record 25 wins and our first Sweet 16 appearance in 15 years, we energized our fanbase and the IU community and turned Wilkinson Hall into one of the best environments in Big Ten Volleyball,” Dolson said. “On top of that, with an amazing group of returnees back in the fall plus a talented incoming recruiting class, I believe that the future is even brighter. We look forward to Steve’s continued leadership as we build on this momentum and pursue even bigger things in the years to come.”
 
IU finished the year ranked No. 13 in the AVCA poll – the highest ranking in the program history. The Hoosiers hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Wilkinson Hall, sweeping Toledo and No. 24 Colorado to advance to the second NCAA regional semifinal in program history.
 
Aird helped oversee the development of three First Team All-Big Ten selections, two AVCA All-Americans and two selections in the Major League Volleyball Draft in 2025. Outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles became the program’s winningest player (77) while finishing her career at number eight on the all-time kills list (1,386).
 
“My family and I are proud to call Bloomington home,” Aird said. “Indiana University is a special place and my staff and I are excited to continue this journey. 2025 was a historic season and I strongly believe the best is yet to come. The department’s leadership is outstanding and the momentum around IU Athletics is contagious. President Whitten, Scott Dolson and Jeremy Gray have shown tremendous belief in our staff and we are grateful for their support. Our focus is to continue to develop great human beings that compete at the highest level and represent the institution and state with pride. From day one I believed that IU volleyball had a rightful place amongst the nation’s elite and we will work hard every day to chase that goal.”
 
IU’s program has been on an upward trajectory over the past several seasons. Since the 2022 campaign, IU has gone 77-51 (.602) overall and 42-38 (.525) in Big Ten action. The Hoosiers have finished .500 or better in each of the last four seasons with two 20-win campaigns to their name. In each of those four years, IU has met or exceeded preseason conference expectations.
 
The Hoosiers have built their program behind elite recruiting at the prep level and the development of impactful transfers. Aird and his staff have signed three top-15 classes since 2020 – including an impressive seven-player class in 2025. Three of the four highest ranked recruits in school history have signed to play for Aird.
 
Under his watch, Wilkinson Hall has become one of the toughest venues to play at in the Big Ten. Since the start of the 2022 season, IU has gone 40-15 (.727) in its home arena. That run of form includes ranked wins over No. 15 Purdue (Oct. 11, 2023) and No. 24 Colorado (Dec. 5, 2025). IU has won 23-straight games against unranked teams at Wilkinson Hall.
 
“The program is ready to take the next step. We have proven to be able to develop professionals and win big matches,” Aird said. “The team thrives in the classroom and values their education. They care about the community and love Bloomington. The growth and popularity of the game is reflected in the crowds and energy at Wilkinson Hall. You are a good coach when you have good players and the program is full of them. We have eight months to prepare for the 2026 season and we will attack each day with the intent to make more history.”
 
Since he became the head coach in 2018, 13 players have graduated from IU and gone on to play at least one season of professional volleyball. Of the 17 student-athletes on IU’s 2025 roster, 14 of them began their collegiate career in Bloomington. All 13 eligible players are set to return for the 2026 campaign. IU was the only program this past season to have a different freshman record 1,000 assists (Krickovic), 380 kills (Jager) and 100 blocks (Gray).

UNION, N.J. (1/6/2026) – The Kean University Men’s Volleyball team has been chosen sixth with 20 points in the Continental Volleyball Conference Preseason Poll.

Southern Virginia topped the poll with 46 points and received five first place votes. Juniata was slotted second with 43 points and two first place votes. Rutgers-Newark rounded out the top three with 38 points and one first place vote. Marymount (31) and Elizabethtown (23) were just ahead of the Cougars in fourth and fifth place, respectively. The rest of the poll is as follows: Drew (17), and Wilkes (6).

This will be the last season for Kean in the CVC as the Cougars depart for the Landmark Conference in 2027.

Kean opens the season in a tri-match at Kings (PA) on Jan. 17^th.

 

2026 CVC Preseason Poll

1 – Southern Virginia – 46 (5)

2 – Juniata – 43 (2)

3 – Rutgers-Newark – 38 (1)

4 – Marymount – 31

5 – Elizabethtown – 23

6 – Kean – 20

7 – Drew – 17

8 – Wilkes – 6

(First Place Votes in Parentheses)

Georgia Southern volleyball and head coach Chad Willis announced the addition of two transfer signees recently, as the Eagles welcome Grace Thomas and Beka Pfefferkorn to Statesboro.

“It is a great day for our program!” head coach Chad Willis said. “As we announce two final additions to our roster heading into the 2026 season. Once again, we are fortunate to add depth and talent from the transfer portal as we continue to build for championships. By adding Grace and Beka, we will now have our entire team for next season on campus and training this spring semester. This will be one of our program’s deepest and most competitive groups. I could not be more proud of our staff for building and shaping this roster and I can’t wait to get to work with our team on bringing a Sun Belt Conference Championship home to Statesboro.”

Grace Thomas | MB | Dublin, Ohio | Central Michigan

A 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Dublin, Ohio, Grace Thomas joins the Eagles after spending her first two collegiate seasons with the Chippewa of Central Michigan. In her first collegiate season, Thomas played in 119 sets over 30 matches, tallying 239 kills (2.00/set) and registered a season high 16 twice against Western Michigan and Buffalo. She earned All-Tournament Team honors at the SUNY – UAlbany Tournament, earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team, and was named to the Second Team All-MAC. In her sophomore season she appeared in 104 sets over 30 matches, collecting 205 kills (1.97/set). During her two seasons at Central Michigan, she combined to post 170 total blocks (25 BS/145 BA), averaging 0.8 per set.

“Grace is a dynamic attacker whose versatility will be an important component to our offensive and defensive systems. Grace has valuable experience as a two-year starter in the MAC; her speed and physicality drive her efficiency as an attacker and her competitive maturity on and off the court will add great leadership and stability to our squad. We are looking forward to introducing Grace to Eagle Nation!”

Beka Pfefferkorn | OH | Cypress, Texas | FIU

A 6-foot-3 outside hitter from Cypress, Texas, Beka Pfefferkorn joins the Eagles after completing her freshman campaign at Florida International. In her first collegiate season, Pfefferkorn appeared in 103 total sets, collecting 245 kills, averaging 2.45 kills per set, earning her CUSA All-Freshman Team honors. Defensively, the Cypress, Texas, native tallied 64 digs and 45 total blocks. She recorded a career-high 18 kills against Stetson in early September and posted a career-best five block assists against Georgia on the road in Athens.

“Beka is a physical offensive and defensive presence who will add immediate depth and experience to the opposite position. In her freshman campaign, Beka competed and put up some big numbers against quality opponents on her way to earning CUSA All-Freshman Team honors. Beka has an incredibly high ceiling and we’re excited to watch her growth and seeing her impact on and off the court.”