Chicago, Ill. -  Qualifying for the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) postseason tournament two out of the last three years has been a sign of the positive strides the Illinois Tech women's volleyball has made over the last few years. And despite losing several key performers to graduation and bringing in eight brand new Scarlet Hawks, the team holds loftier expectations as they get ready to launch their 2024 season Friday evening at the Ripon College Classic in Ripon, Wisconsin.

"The goal this year is not to just squeak into the playoffs" said Head Coach Mark Johnston. "In the preseason poll (NACC Women's Volleyball Preseason poll) we got voted eighth. And that means we're going to squeak right back into the playoffs again. So the goal this year is to not just squeak in but to lock down our position in the playoffs. Realistically, we can be five or six team in this conference. So we already have a chip on our shoulder because of that preseason ranking" said Johnston.

To climb in the conference standings, Johnston outlined two components of the team dynamic that will need to assert itself this season: progress from the first-year players and the ability of the returning players to elevate their performance.

"We're definitely moving in the right direction" Johnston said. "It was a great preseason. We found out a lot of things (about the team) but we're still answering a lot of questions out there. But once you finally get to start playing, that really helps you out (in answering those questions)" 

The Scarlet Hawks lost five key seniors this past off season, including three-time All-NACC performer Briar Moore, along with Kelsey Starnes and Stephanie Nguyen on the backline and Maria Fernanda Alcantara and Emily Graham on the frontline.

But their departures did not leave the Hawks' cupboard bare. The team returns six key contributors, including senior setters and team captains Sasami Cavan and Grace Reckamp. At middle, the Hawks return sophomore Karla Trautmann Mendez, who made All-NACC in her first-year season and was also voted as a team captain for this season. Joining Trautmann Mendez in the middle is sophomore Victoria Aspurez. Johnston noted that the team's middle play could be the strength of the team. Also returning on the front line is junior London Francis, handling right side duties. Anna Elena Sofia Sebastio rounds out the returning players from last season, and the third-year player will take on libero duties this season after playing outside hitter the last two seasons. In addition to the returning six, the Hawks got another infusion of experience as junior outside hitter Ana Jones returns to the team after focusing on playing on the women's basketball team last season. Jones last played in the 2022 season.

The Scarlet Hawks welcome eight new faces to the program. Sophomore transfer Lilia Donaldson (Boulder, Colorado) from the University of Redlands joins first-year and local product Karla Leonte (Morton Grove, Illinois) in the Hawks' middle attack. Also joining the front line are first-years Madison Gowan (right-side/Comfort, Texas), Sydney Wilson (outside/Maumee, Ohio), Taryn Jones (outside/St. Louis, Missouri), and Erin Nothdorf (outside/Wonder Lake, Illinois). Setter Orchid Som (Chicago, Illinois) and defensive specialist Toshiko Jones (Camas, Washington) round out the first-year class for this year's team.

"Our returners have made it really easy for the new players to get acclimated and get used to what this program represents" said Johnston.  "Right now, (after several practices), it doesn't feel like a team where half of the kids are new and half of them are veterans. It feels like they've all been here for a year already. It's a really nice feeling right now."

Johnston also noted that the influx of new players will definitely change the identity of the team. 

"I feel like the last couple of years we've been that team that will scrap with you, that will win some long rallies, we're not always going to be taller than you or out-jump you or overpower you, but we're always going to outsmart you," Johnston said. "So now I feel we have a good balance of smarts plus athleticism (with size). But a lot of that athleticism are these first-year players that we're still getting used to and working to get their best. So I feel by the end of the season we're going to be a much different team offensively. I feel like ball-control we're still the same. We're still a really good serve receive team, a really good defensive team, but offensively we're already a step up from where we were last year" said Johnston.

Despite the fact the 2024 version of the women's volleyball team hasn't played a match yet, Coach Johnston feels very positive about his team.

"I'm really proud of them right now" said Johnston. "We did graduate five pretty key players. All of them were either starters or pretty big contributors to the team. So I'm proud of how they've dealt with that and where they're at already. There's not a lot of talk about last year. The focus is on this year and how are we going to get better today. I'm really proud that our returners are stepping up and being leaders on this team, even if they're not captains."

Up Next

The Scarlet Hawks open their 2024 season competing in the Ripon College Classic this Friday and Saturday in Ripon, Wisconsin. On Friday, the Hawks will take on Luther College at 5:00pm, followed by Martin Luther College at 7:00pm. On Saturday, the Hawks return to the Ripon courts to face Mount Mary University at 10:00am, and then wrap up against host Ripon College at 2:00pm.