2025 Roster
2025 Schedule
2024 Statistics

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Alverno College women's volleyball team will begin its 2025 campaign this weekend, as the squad of 14 will look for continued improvement under second-year head coach and program alum Neilee' Newton '20.

The team features eight freshmen, two sophomores, one junior, and three seniors, as a young group will look to remain competitive in a strong Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC).

"We rebuilt from the ground up this season, going from just five returners to a full roster of 14 driven athletes," Newton said, "Every single one of them was brought in with purpose—and we're hungry to prove ourselves. This group has bought in, built chemistry fast, and is ready to fight for each other at every single point. It's a new era for our program, and we're coming for everything—together."

The season begins for the Alverno Inferno on Friday, Aug. 29, as they head to the University of St. Thomas-Houston for the UST Opening Weekend Tournament in Houston, Texas, taking on Schreiner at 12:15 p.m. in their first game.

Defensive Specialist/Libero
The Inferno will have several options to fill their libero and defensive specialist needs in 2025, as they return both senior Sharisty Kooch (Terebonne, Ore./Redmond) and sophomore Elyse Kozikowski (Watertown, Wis./Dodgeland), who each saw considerable time at the positions last year. Kooch was second on the team in digs per set last year, averaging 2.30, while Kozikowski led the team in receptions per set with 1.29. Kooch also led the team in service aces during the 2024 campaign. Also returning in 2025 is senior Breann Flannery (Argyle, Wis./Argyle), who was third on the team in digs per set last year (1.82) in 17 sets of action.

Four newcomers round out the defensive specialist and libero group in 2025, with sophomore Kaysee Acker (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek), and freshmen Brooklynne Hereford (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial), Holly King (Richland Center, Wis./Ithaca), and Breanna Rangel (Milwaukee, Wis./St. Anthony).

Setter
With the departure of All-Conference setter Izzy Gianniou, the setter position will be up for grabs in 2025, with Kooch bringing the most experience at the position. She tallied 127 assists last year, good for second only behind Gianniou.

Two freshmen will also look to earn time at the position as Beyonca Hereford (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial) and Carley Juneau (Milwaukee, Wis./St. Francis) will join Kooch as setters in 2025.

Opposite Hitter
Senior Dominque Tetrault (La Broquerie, Manitoba / École Saint Joachim) will look to be a big piece of the Alverno attack in 2025, returning with the most career kills of any Inferno this year. Last year, she finished second on the team in kills, points, and kills per set. Also returning in 2025 is junior Makiyah Buck (Milwaukee, Wis./St. Francis) after she played in 24 matches last year.

Juneau, who could also see time at setter, will work with the opposite hitters in 2025.

Outside Hitter
With another key departure in 2024 All-Conference selection Rolin West, Alverno will have several new faces working to bring a stout offensive attack in 2025.

Of the returning faces for the Inferno, Kozikowski was second on the team in kills and will see time at outside hitter this season as Alverno works with several new players on offense. Buck will mix in with the outsides in 2025 as well for the Inferno.

5'10" freshman Mary Needham (San Tan Valley, Ariz./Poston Butte) will be in the mix with the outside hitters for Alverno, bringing size as the second-tallest player on the team this season.

Middle Blocker
Two freshmen will split duties at middle blocker this season as Leilani Curtis (Rockford, Ill./Auburn) and Sofia Mitchell (Denver, Colo./Denver School of Science & Technology: Montview) join the Inferno for the 2025 season.

Schedule:
The Inferno kicks off its 2025 schedule on the road, heading to the University of St. Thomas-Houston for the UST Opening Weekend Tournament. Alverno begins tournament play with two matchups on Friday, Aug. 29, against Schreiner and Hardin-Simmons, before taking on host St. Thomas-Houston and Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday, Aug. 30.
 
Alverno opens up its home schedule on Sept. 9, welcoming Maranatha Baptist to Reiman Gymnasium on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The team then heads back to Texas over the weekend, participating in the UMHB Tournament, taking on host Mary Hardin-Baylor and Schreiner on Friday, Sept. 12, and then LeTourneau and Hardin-Simmons on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Inferno returns to Wisconsin and travels to Maranatha Baptist on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) action begins for Alverno on Wednesday, Sept. 24, as the Inferno welcomes Wisconsin Lutheran to Reiman Gymnasium. Next, Alverno matches up with Beloit in a road contest on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The Inferno then kicks off four straight home contests, beginning MSOE visiting Reiman Gymnasiums on Thursday, Oct. 2 and then with their first weekend home game of the season, hosting Dominican in NACC play on Saturday, Oct. 4. Alverno then hosts Lake Forest on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in a non-conference contest, and then hosts Benedictine on Thursday, Oct. 9, for NACC action. Back-to-back road contests are next up for the Inferno, as they travel to Concordia Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 11, and St. Norbert on Thursday, Oct. 16, both in NACC play. Alverno then hosts Aurora on Saturday, Oct. 18, before traveling to Marian on Thursday, Oct. 23, and Illinois Tech on Saturday, Oct. 25, all in NACC action.

The Inferno then hosts their final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 28, before traveling to defending conference champion Edgewood on Thursday, Oct. 30. Saturday, Nov.1 sees Alverno host Rockford in NACC play, followed by the final regular season home game against Lakeland on Thursday, Nov. 6. The 2025 season wraps up for the Inferno on Saturday, Nov. 8 against conference runner-up Concordia Wisconsin.

The top eight teams in the final regular-season conference standings will qualify for the NACC Tournament, with the quarterfinals set for Tuesday, Nov. 11, the semifinals for Thursday, Nov. 13, and the NACC Championship set for Saturday, Nov. 15. The conference champions receive the NACC's automatic berth in the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship.

(Schedule is subject to change)