By Chris Parker

Houston volleyball posted its fourth consecutive season with at least 20 wins going 21-12-3 last season.

The consistency in the win column has reflected the consistency in offseason work the players put in.

“Our kids have really bought into the weight room and put in the work in the offseason,” Houston head coach Julia Sloan said. “They know that it is an expectation. They are consistently working to compete every night and not settling for being mediocre.”

Five players who saw action in at least 99 of the 103 sets last season return along with a sixth player who played in 59 varsity sets.

Kayla Wagner returns after leading Houston in kills with 357 and finishing second in assists with 342. She had a part in 74% of Houston’s kills last year either as the hitter or setter.

“She can do it all. She sees the floor so well and has such a high volleyball IQ,” Sloan said. “She is our captain along with Gracyn McNiell. Kayla really stepped into that role last year and led our team. She takes her role very seriously and will do anything possible to help us better as a team.”

McNiell is a senior libero who led Houston with 591 receptions and 381 digs.

“Gracyn is the most hard-nosed kid you will meet,” Sloan said. “She is such a hard worker and will not let anyone outwork her. She will do anything for her team and is just a great kid.”

Kynlee Weaver, the team’s leader in total blocks with 35, returns to her spot at middle hitter for her senior season.

“She has made great strides this offseason,” Sloan said of Weaver.

Senior defensive specialist Annabelle Westbrook brings a vocal presence with her defense.

“Annabelle is a very vocal piece to our team,” Sloan said. “I’m expecting big things out of her this season.”

Carli Cummins-Drake (senior DS) and Hannah Ennis (senior OH) will compete for varsity sets this season after seeing time last season.

Millie Manier is a freshman who could make an immediate impact as an outside or right side hitter.

“As an incoming freshman, Millie has shown a lot of promise as a younger player,” Sloan said. “I am expecting her to get quite a bit of playing time this season.”

Claire Benoist (sophomore setter), Hally Sheets (junior middle hitter) Arianna Flores (junior RS), Adyson Dailing (junior OH) and Olivia Ice (junior MH) are newcomers to watch.

Sloan on Benoist: “Claire is going to be our other setter. Claire is such a good kid that will work her tail off. She has great hands, and I am excited to see how much she grows this season.”

Sloan on Sheets: “She is a 6-foot-1 middle who has worked really hard this offseason to earn her a spot this year. I am expecting great things from her this season.”

Sloan on Flores: “Ari is a six-foot right side for us. She has really impressed me these last few weeks of offseason. She is really stepping into her role well.”

Sloan on Dailing: “Adyson can jump out of a gym. I am expecting her to see some floor time this year.”

The chemistry is strong among this senior-heavy roster.

“All these girls just get along,” Sloan said. “They all are pretty close on and off the court. We also have six seniors, so they bring a lot of leadership and experience to the court. We are also very tall upfront. I feel that will help lead us to success this year.”

Houston hosts a jamboree on Aug. 26 with Cabool and Willow Springs before opening the regular season on Sept. 4 at Steelville.

“Night in and night out I want us to compete,” Sloan said. “The SCA has lots of great volleyball and every night is a fight. Always the goal is to finish in the top of the conference and then strive for a postseason run.”

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The countdown continues with four days remaining until the 2025 women’s volleyball season. Here are my top five returning outside hitters: 

CATCH UP: Top 5 returning middles

1. Brooklyn Deleye, Kentucky

😤😤BK😤😤

9-2, Kentucky | Timeout, CSU

📺💻 ESPN+
📻 UK Sports Network#LetsDance x @NCAAVolleyball pic.twitter.com/N1Vk8fZwjm

— Kentucky Volleyball (@KentuckyVB) December 6, 2024

I have Kentucky’s 2024 SEC Player of the Year, Brooklyn DeLeye, in my number one spot. Her numbers are unbelievable: 5.59 points and 4.87 kills per set. She led the Wildcats with 56 aces on the season and .78 blocks per set during her sophomore year campaign. DeLeye is a true six-rotation player who can just dominate a game, which is something she repeatedly proved last season. 

2. Harper Murray, Nebraska

6-0 RUN TO CLOSE OUT THE FIRST. 😤@harpermurray4 on the kill! #GBR pic.twitter.com/gr7p5tTE3r

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) December 14, 2024

Next, I have Nebraska’s Harper Murray. The 2023 Big Ten Freshmen of the Year is probably the best passing outside on this list while registering 59.2% in system last season with over 2.4 digs and four points per set. Murray has plenty of veteran experience under the bright lights and knows how to turn it on in big moments. She no doubt has that “it” factor as a player. 

HUSKERS ON TOP: Preseason power 10 rankings

3. Torrey Stafford, Texas

The new Longhorn, Torrey Stafford, makes the list at number three. I think the most impressive part of Stafford’s game is her hitting efficiency. She posted a .358 hitting percentage last season at Pitt and at least .400 in 15 games while averaging 4.2 points per set. She’s got some incredibly impressive numbers to boast about for an outside and will likely get a lot more sets at Texas. 

OFFSEASON MOVES: Check out which teams won the 2025 transfer portal

4. Eva Hudson, Kentucky

Eva Hudson, now at Kentucky, is a no-brainer to make the list after watching her play. Even her numbers alone speak for themselves. Hudson led the Big Ten last season at Purdue with 567 kills and 4.81 kills per set. She posted 5.2 points per set, while hitting almost .300 during her junior year campaign. The 2022 Big Ten Freshmen of the Year is the complete package: a powerful swing, great shot selection, and a strong blocking presence at the net. Paired with Brooklyn DeLeye, the Wildcats are looking very dangerous this season.  

5. Elia Rubin, Stanford

Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of that 😳🫣

💻 » https://t.co/VXI8U6JTOl#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/eOvl4mpD5L

— Stanford Women’s Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) December 8, 2024

Rounding out my top five, I have Elia Rubin at Stanford. The two-time Pac-12 champion brings back so much valuable experience on the outside to lead the Cardinal in her senior season. Rubin is a versatile player who makes a difference everywhere on the court, averaging over 4.5 points per set and passing 54% in system. This veteran may just be the difference maker for Stanford. 

STANFORD AND OTHER TOP TEAMS SET TO KICKOFF 2025 SEASON at the AVCA First Serve 

HM. Mimi Colyer, Wisconsin

Mimi Colyer, now at Wisconsin, is my top honorable mention and just barely missed my top five. She comes to Madison boasting 3.97 kills and 4.73 points per set, with five 20-kills performances and nine double-doubles from her junior season at Oregon. The 2022 AVCA Freshmen of the Year is another firepower six-rotation player that brings key experience to the Badgers. 

WHO’S GOT NEXT? 11 players that aren’t talked about enough

Shane Borunda, Max Ellis, Bode Farren, Aidan Forehand, Blake Fuchslin, Derek Hymer, Olin Kusevskis and Matt Oravetz join the Falcons this season.  Seven members of the class hail from California, with Kusevskis coming from Illinois.

Shane Borunda – AT – Coronado, CA (Francis Parker HS)

Earned five varsity letters with four in water polo and one in basketball … two-time MVP and school record-holder in all-time goals and assists … high school water polo coach was Sam Busby … also competed for La Jolla United for eight years, earning third place at club championships and winning the Holiday Classic Gold … also a team captain on club team.

Max Ellis – C – Irvine, CA (Santa Margarita Catholic HS)

Lettered four years in water polo, two at Santa Margarita and freshman and sophomore year at Woodbridge HS … also competed in swimming and swam the butterfly and freestyle events … First-Team All-Trinity League, Second-Team All-CIF Southern Section – Open Div., team offensive POY and scholar-athlete award … First-Team All-Pacific Coast League as a sophomore, team offensive POY as a freshman and sophomore, scholar-athlete award … high school water polo coach at Santa Margarita was Pavle Filipovic … also competed for 18U SOCAL Black, earning 6th place at Junior Olympics Platinum Division, 18U SET WPC, finishing 8th at Junior Olympics Platinum Division, 16U SOCAL Black, finishing 2nd at Junior Olympics Platinum Division

Bode Farren – G – Penryn, CA (Del Oro HS/American River CC)

Led American River College to Big 8 Conference Championship and second place finish at 3C2A NorCal Championships…Broke ARC single season record with 256 saves, averaging 8.8 saves per game … As a senior in high school, earned team MVP, was team captain and first-team all-section … as a junior, led Del Oro to its first section Championship in program history, was team defensive player of the year, first-team all-league … recorded 276 saves and 9.5 saves per game as a senior and 284 saves for a 10.1 saves per game average as a junior … lettered three years in water polo and two in swimming … high school water polo coach was Kenny Waldthaler … also competed for Sacramento Water Polo for 2019-23.

Aidan Forehand – AT – Indian Wells, CA (Xavier College Prep)

Lettered four years in water polo and also competed in swimming … First-team Dester Empire League (3x) … led Xavier Prep to three DEL titles and made the CIF quarterfinals three times … team captain as a senior … led Xavier Prep to Riverside Poly tournament title … high school water polo coach was Pavol Valovic … also played club for Scorpions Water Polo Club from 2021-24 and Chino Hills Area Water Polo from 2016-21 … team captain on club team, earned 3x Junior Olympics medalist, placed top 20 in nation and podium finishes at Cal Cup … graduated with 4.0 grade-point average and earned full NROTC scholarship for multiple schools.

Blake Fuchslin – AF – Sacramento, CA (Davis Senior HS)

Earned eight varsity letters, with four each in water polo and swimming … led Davis Senior to D2 Norcal Championship … all-section first-team … high school water polo coach was Tracy Stapleton … also competed in club water polo for 680 Drivers from 2021-25 and Davis Blue Devils from 2015-20 … team captain and first-team all-league and first-team all-section in club play.

Derek Hymer – AT – San Carlos, CA (Sequoia HS)

First-team all-league (3x) … led Sequoia to two PAL Bay League titles … scored 86 goals, 20 assists and 19 steals as a senior, 91 goals, 12 assists and 15 steals as a sophomore and 72 goals, 12 assists and five steals as a sophomore …  team MVP as a junior and senior … also played baseball, earning all-league honorable mention honors … high school water polo coach was Eric Bittner … played club water polo for Mid-Penn Water Polo Club from 2022-25 and was a team captain

Olin Kusevskis – C – Buffalo Grove, IL (Stevenson HS)

Attended USAFA Prep School in 2024-25 and played club ball for Peak Polo … 116 goals and 54 drawn exclusions as a senior at Stevenson HS … played on state championship team as a freshman … High school water polo coach was Sean Wimer … also competed in swimming and earned all-conference honors … also competed in club for Northern Illinois Polo Club.

Matt Oravetz – UT – Newport Beach, CA (Servite HS)

Earned six varsity letters at Servite, earning three each in water polo and swimming … First-Team All-Trinity League … team MVP as a senior … led Servite to two CIF D1 Southern Section qualifiers … high school coach water polo coach was Andy Coffman … also competed club for Imperial Water Polo, where he was a team captain for three years … club coach was Pavle Filipovic … swam the 50 free and was on 200 free relay in swimming.

 

RICHMOND, Va. – For the second time in her career, Stony Brook outside hitter Kali Moore has been named Preseason All-CAA as she begins her fourth season with the program. CAA coaches also ranked the Seawolves fifth overall in the conference ahead of the 2025 season.

One of the top offensive players in the league, Moore is coming off a 2024 All-CAA First Team selection after she led the conference with a career-high 469 kills which placed 12th in the nation as of November 21. She also finished top three in the CAA and set new personal bests with 3.94 kills per set, 530.5 points, and 4.46 points per set. Defensively, Moore set new career highs with 288 digs and 45 total blocks. On October 19 vs. Elon she became the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills.

Moore was previously named to the 2023 Preseason All-CAA Team following her historic 2022 Rookie of the Year season.

This marks the second consecutive season Stony Brook has been voted fifth in the preseason poll. The Seawolves earned 62 points in the poll, trailing only North Carolina A&T (68 points, one first place vote), Towson (88 points, one first place vote), Hofstra (90 points, four first place votes), and Charleston (92 points, five first place votes).

Stony Brook went 16-13 overall and 9-9 in the CAA last year in what was head coach Kristin Belzung‘s eighth season.

The Seawolves begin their 2025 campaign on Friday, August 29 at 6 p.m. when they open the Stony Brook Invite vs. CCSU. 

Full preseason awards results below.

CAA Preseason Player of the Year

Tyne Ross, North Carolina A&T

Preseason All-CAA Team

Honorable Mentions: Caroline Berlekamp, MB, Elon; Deanna Dollar, OH, Charleston; Maddie Lambers, MB, Campbell; Valentina Meirelles, OH, Northeastern; Leonor Polezzi, S, North Carolina A&T; Catherine Rucker, MB, Elon

2025 CAA VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

 

For an inside look at the Seawolves volleyball program, be sure to follow them on Facebook, X, and Instagram.