2026 Season Preview: Volleyball – Denison College

Coming off a 2025 season that noticed the Big Red volleyball crew attain the NCAC Tournament Semifinals, the 2026 chapter of Denison appears to take a stronger leap this fall.

2025 Recap

Denison obtained off to a scorching begin, profitable its first 4 matches of the season, together with a significant upset over No. 3 Hope College. The remainder of the non-conference slate was back-and-forth, choosing up wins down the stretch earlier than heading into NCAC play. The Big Red would go 4-3 in convention play, incomes the No. 4 seed within the convention event, the place they hosted DePauw in a quarterfinal matchup. 

DePauw gained the primary and third, and Denison gained the second and fourth. Riding the momentum of a fourth-set win, the Big Red grinded a 15-13 victory in set 5, popping out on high 3-2 to advance to the semifinals. There, Denison would journey to eventual convention event champion Wittenberg, the place they fell 3-0, bringing their general file to 14-16.

NCAC Preseason Poll

Denison begins the season slated third within the NCAC preseason ballot with 43 factors, behind Wittenberg (64) and John Carroll (55). Rounding out the highest 5 are Ohio Wesleyan (41) and DePauw (37).

Key Returners

Maeve Perry returns as the one All-NCAC choice from final season, incomes second-team honors. The senior recorded 188 kills together with 30 blocks in 79 units performed. 

Two-time All-NCAC honoree Claire Hamilton returns for her senior season as one of many key outdoors hitters on the Big Red. Hamilton led the group in kills (291), factors (294), and kills per set (2.85). 

Senior Ryan Kotalik returns on the defensive finish as the highest returning server, bringing again a 2025-best 40 service aces. Kotalik additionally ranked second on the crew final season in digs with 318 and a 94.1% reception proportion. 

Gone to commencement is Alice Kempf, leaving rising sophomore Amelia Kurtz as the highest returning setter. Kurtz had 209 assists final 12 months, averaging 5.23 per set in her 11 matches performed. Also within the combine can be rising senior Katelyn Chiu, who performed in 14 matches and tallied 71 assists.

Ayla Dunbar (219 kills) and Emily Monachino (168 kills) return key manufacturing on the offensive finish, each rating within the high 5 on the crew in kills, factors, and kills per set. Kate Sicklick, Devon Moore, and Carolina Parkhurst all return, as every participant had over 100 kills final season.

A Look on the Schedule

Home Opener: Sept. 1 vs. Marietta at 7 pm

NCAC Opener: Sept. 26 at Wittenberg at 1 pm

Senior Day: Oct. 10 vs. John Carroll at 11 am

Season Finale: Nov. 6 at Baldwin Wallace at 7 pm