Penn State women’s volleyball is defending two championships in 2025, and right now, it has a good chance to get back on top in the Big Ten. The only team standing in the way? Nebraska.

In 2024, the Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers technically shared the Big Ten title. Unlike other sports, the Big Ten doesn’t sponsor a championship game for women’s volleyball, so the champion is determined solely by team records. Both Penn State and Nebraska finished the season with a 19-1 record. The Nittany Lions earned their fair share of the title by defeating the Cornhuskers on Nov. 29. Nebraska then beat Maryland after to secure its share.

Now heading into 2025, the two teams are projected to be the top duo again. In the Big Ten Preseason Poll, Penn State is ranked second under No. 1 Nebraska.

Though placed below, the Nittany Lions beat their conference foe twice in 2024. In the Final Four, they pushed the Cornhuskers into five sets in a reverse sweep victory. Penn State fell in the first two sets, but then took the third, stole the fourth from a 22-16 trail behind, and earned the semifinal win 15-13 in the fifth.

The full preseason poll results here:

1. Nebraska

2. Penn State

3. Wisconsin

4. Minnesota

5. UCLA

6. USC

7. Purdue

8. Washington

9. Illinois

10. Michigan

11. Indiana

12. Oregon

13. Ohio State

14. Michigan State

15. Northwestern

16. Maryland

17. Iowa

18. Rutgers

Two Nittany Lions were unanimously named to the 2025 Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team as well.

Sophomore setter Izzy Starck, who was named the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and National Freshman of the Year, and junior right side hitter Kennedy Martin, who was a 2024 All-American and All-SEC First Team selection. Martin transferred from Florida to Penn State after last season. She played two seasons with the Gators. Both Starck and Martin earned spots on the Player of the Year Watch List as well.

Senior libero Gillian Grimes was also selected to the preseason All-Conference Team. She was a 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selection, voted to the NCAA Championship All-tournament team, and was named to the State College NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team.

The full list of preseason All-Conference selectees here:

Michigan: Outside hitter Allison Jacobs

Minnesota: Outside hitters Julia Hanson and McKenna Wucherer

Nebraska: Middle blockers Andi Jackson (unanimous selection) and Rebekah Allick, outside hitter Harper Murray (unanimous selection), and setter Bergen Reilly (unanimous selection)

Penn State: Libero Gillian Grimes, right side hitter Kennedy Martin (unanimous selection), and setter Izzy Starck (unanimous selection)

UCLA: Middle blockers Phekran Kong and Marianna Singletary, outside hitters Cheridyn Leverette and Maggie Li

USC: Outside hitter Adonia Faumuina

Washington: Outside hitter Kierstyn Barton and middle blocker Julia Hunt

Wisconsin: Middle blocker Carter Booth, outside hitter Mimi Colyer, and setter Charlie Fuerbringer

Paquiz brings over 19 years of coaching experience at NCAA Division I, elite club and high school (both girls and boys) levels. Paquiz comes to Ypsilanti from Houghton, Mich. where he was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the Huskies.

Prior to his time at Michigan Tech, the Chicago, Ill. native spent the 2011 season as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay as well as serving as a volunteer assistant coach at DePaul University, in 2008-09.

Outside of his collegiate coaching experience, Paquiz spent nearly five years as the head coach of the First Alliance Volleyball Club in Western Springs, Ill. He coached both 17-and 18-year old classes, leading both squads to multiple top-placing finishes in national tournaments. As the master coach of the First Alliance 18 Silver squad, Paquiz led his team to a first place finish in the Great Lakes Power League in 2012. His 2009 squad posted a bronze medal at the AAU Junior Nationals and a ninth place finish at the Junior Volleyball Directors Association Championships.

In 2011, his 17 Silver squad was ranked as high as eighth in the PrepVolleyball.com national poll, while earning a gold medal at the Junior Volleyball Association’s World Challenge. His 17 Silver team earned a top-15 finish in the Great Lakes Power League’s Under-18 division.

Before taking the reigns at First Alliance, Paquiz spent over eight years of coaching in Southern California an area known for its volleyball. Paquiz served as head coach of the boy’s and girl’s teams at the Brentwood School in Los Angeles, Calif. and the head coach of the Santa Monica Beach Volleyball Club.

A 1998 graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, Paquiz spent three years (1995-97) playing club volleyball as a defensive specialist for UIC. He is also an avid beach player.