2025 Austin College Volleyball Season Preview

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College volleyball team heads into the 2025 campaign with high expectations, as head coach Ed Garza enters his 30th season at the helm with his squad picked to finish second in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in a preseason poll conducted by the conference's head coaches.

Last season, the 'Roos finished with an overall record of 21-14 and a conference mark of 11-4 and Garza returns a good chunk of his production from a year ago while also welcoming in one of the biggest and most talented first-year classes in his three decades on the sideline. He'll also be chasing a milestone this year, heading into 2025 just 10 wins shy of notching 700 in his Austin College coaching career and 750 victories overall as a head coach. 

A number of impact players return this season, including All-SCAC libero Laynie Kovacs, who enters her senior season as one of the top defensive players in the league after finishing last year with 725 digs for an average of 5.66 per-set. She also ranked among the conference leaders in service aces, completing the 2024 schedule with 78 in 35 matches played. Also back this year is senior setter Madison Manning, who led the team with 4.9 assists-per-set and a team-best 627 a year ago, and Samantha Graham is also back to bolster the right side after a junior campaign that saw her average 1.58 kills-per-set, good for fourth on the team and third among returning players.

Garza will also be looking to Rachel Sadler, who had a break-out season as a sophomore when she finished second on the team with 2.46 kills-per-set, and Victoria Larson heads into her second year in the program after averaging 1.65 kills and totaling 53 blocks in 26 matches played. Also back this season after missing last season due to injury is Selah Coleman, a senior outside hitter who averaged 1.5 kills-per-set as a sophomore and will be counted on for both her leadership and all-around ability and versatility on the court. 

The 'Roos welcome in 13 first-year players this season as well as sophomore transfer setter Katie Riemer, who Garza believes will make a big difference right away splitting time with Manning. The deep and talented first-year class brings with it plenty of size and ability at multiple positions, with 6-foot-2 middle Madisin Hartsfield and 6-foot rightside hitter Lindi Perry poised to see significant action early on, while 6-foot middle blocker Ivy Walsh and setter Ashby McCracken could also see plenty of playing time as they enter their first season of collegiate volleyball. 

Austin College opens up the season at home with the Austin College Classic, hitting the court at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29 against Arcadia and New England College, before wrapping up the weekend at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on August 30 against Rhodes and Millsaps.