SEASON PREVIEW: 2026 Madison College WolfPack Women's Volleyball

Optimism abounds throughout the Madison College women's volleyball program, which enters the 2026 season with the core of its national tournament team intact and ready for another deep run. Following the program's first region championship in a decade, the WolfPack will lean on the return of several postseason award winners and program record-breakers. Madison College is ranked #12 in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll and will be a likely favorite to contend for another Region 4 crown.

“Winning a Region 4 championship and playing at the national tournament was a huge step for our program, and with five key contributors back, there's a real hunger in our gym to push us even farther. We have tremendous leadership and experience with our sophomore group, while our newcomers bring a lot of talent and energy and will have opportunities to make an impact right away. We’re excited about the depth and versatility of this group and the different ways each player can contribute. Our goals remain the same: to win another region title, return to the national tournament, and ultimately compete for a NJCAA championship.”

Sophomores

All five returning players saw valuable playing time in their debut seasons, leading the team on a trip to the national stage. Setter Allie Andrews was a breakout star, earning Region 4 Player of the Year and NJCAA First Team All-American honors after setting the program's single-season assists record with 1,180. She sits just 769 assists away from tying for the all-time record and could likely become the first player in team history to reach the 2,000 assists milestone. Outside hitter Ella Vosberg also put her name in the record books as a freshman, terminating the most kills in a single season in WolfPack history with 464. Vosberg hit at an efficient rate of .295 last season, putting herself 353 kills away from becoming the fourth person to break the career mark in the last decade. Sam Schultz' versatility was a rare display last fall, and the First Team All-Region 4 recipient will likely split time between outside hitter and libero/defensive specialist. In 2025, she racked up 347 kills and 432 digs, and will also be the team's top returning server with 74 aces. Outside hitter Makayla Dallas and middle blocker Caylee Coggins are back following freshman campaigns that saw the duo combine for 516 kills, 291 digs, 82 blocks, and 66 aces.

“We’re really excited about the experience and talent we have returning this season. Allie, Caylee, Makayla, Sam, and Ella each played significant roles for us last year, and having that experience back gives us a great foundation to build on. They bring a lot of versatility to our lineup, both offensively and defensively, and I’m excited to see how much they’ve grown since last season. With the experience they gained competing at the regional and national levels, I think this group is ready to take another step forward and help lead our team into the 2026 season.”

Freshman

Two keys areas the WolfPack newcomers will likely need to make an immediate impact is in the back row and the middle of the net. Amara Jahner and Jaydon Golsteyn will compete for time as defensive specialists and liberos, while the trio of Cassie Kotlowski, Katrina Meinholz, and Izzy Schalk will likely see floor time at middle blocker. Brynn Riesterer, a middle blocker from Brodhead, was an WVCA All-State selection; however, she will miss the season with an injury suffered at the end of her high school career. Danica Pauls is another all-state honoree, as well as a three-time WIAA State Track & Field qualifier, and will join Colby LaPlant and Braelee Kiepert as possible threats from the outside hitter spot. And Gretchen Kammerer, an all-state setter and coach's kid from Brodhead, Wisconsin, hopes to push Andrews for minutes running the offense.

"We’re really excited about this incoming class and the depth and versatility they bring to our program. We have a great mix of positions, which will create a lot of competition and opportunities within our gym. This group also gives us a lot of athleticism and physicality at the net, while adding depth to our backcourt. With our returning group providing experience and leadership, I’m excited to see how this incoming class develops and the energy they bring to our team. I think this is a group that has a lot of potential to make an impact right off the bat, and I’m looking forward to seeing them grow together throughout the season."

Schedule

Madison College will begin its season with four matches at the NIACC Tournament on Friday-Saturday, August 28-29, and then return to H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium for the home and Region 4 opener against Joliet Junior College on September 2. At the Iowa Central Tournament, the WolfPack will have their first battle of ranked teams as they face #6 Mesa Community College on September 4 and then the host and tenth-ranked Tritons on September 5. Top-ranked and defending national champion Heartland Community College visits Redsten Gym on September 18 for the Madison College Triangular, and then #14 Sauk Valley Community College comes to Wisconsin on October 9 for the Madison College Quad. At the Parkland College Tournament, the Pack squares off with the host and #7-ranked Cobras. Additionally, Madison College will face two teams ranked in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll when they battle #5 Minnesota West Community & Technical College on September 5 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and visit #4 College of DuPage on October 14. The 2026 Region 4 Tournament begins on November 4, and Madison College will again host the semifinals and championships on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, respectively. The winners earn automatic berths to the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.