Volleyball Opens 2025 Fall Season with Thursday Practice

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina volleyball began the 2025 preseason with its opening practice on Thursday afternoon as the Catamounts assembled for the first time inside the Ramsey Center.

After holding preseason photo day last Thursday, the 15 student-athletes who make up the 2025 squad opened practice Thursday. The team spent the majority of practice getting in the flow of playing, as the Catamounts roster features six freshman making their debuts at the collegiate level.

Western Carolina continues its preparation for its lone exhibition match of the 2025 campaign as the Catamounts welcome DII foe UNC Pembroke to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center on Friday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. Admission to the exhibition and each home match is free of charge, presented by First Bank.

Western Carolina returns nine letterwinners from the 2024 squad, including two of its top defensive threats from a season ago: senior Janelle Blue (111 blocks, 156 kills) and classmate Samantha Jo Mikosky (73 blocks). The Catamounts squad in 2025 features six freshmen and four sophomores, which is the youngest roster in the Southern Conference for 2025.

Following its exhibition on Aug. 22, Western Carolina pulls the curtain back on the 2025 regular season on August 29 with a doubleheader against Texas Tech and Kent State from Florida Atlantic’s on-campus arena. The Catamounts and the host Owls battle the next afternoon to close out the opening weekend in Boca Raton.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount volleyball and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts, @catamountvb), and Twitter (@catamounts, @catamountvb).