Volleyball season is around the corner as the Cougs come off a tough finish to last season, missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015.
WSU had bright spots in 2024, including an impressive final year of a historic career for Katy Ryan, and an above-.500 season in a new conference with a first-year head coach. Despite this, the program’s recent history sets high expectations and 2024 left more to be desired.
With just six returnees and five upperclassmen, the Cougs enter the season with a lot of uncertainty and optimism to improve on last year’s 16-12 record.
Liberos: Kylie Wong (Sr.), Tinons Munar Galmé (So.), Maddy Joswick (Fr.), Jackie Carle (Fr.)
The Cougs lost a staple of the roster at a key position on the floor with junior Emma Barbero, who transferred to BYU. Barbero appeared in 112 sets and all 28 matches last season, leaving Wong as the inexperienced incumbent, as she appeared in 11 matches and totaled 21 sets.
Wong will likely be challenged by Galmé, a Florida A&M transfer, who was named All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Second Team and SWAC All-Tournament. Galmé appeared in 31 matches and 103 sets last season, bringing much-needed experience from a Rattlers squad that went 27-7 and made the NCAA tournament.
Joswick and Carle both had major success in high school, including a 6A Oregon State championship to Carle’s name. However, both will likely be relegated to reserve roles in the early season. While head coach Korey Schroeder largely stuck to one libero last season, a committee approach is not off the table due to the uncertainty at the position.
Middle Blockers: Lucie Blažková (So.), Camryn Lingenbrink (Gr.), Keniya Cleveland (R-Jr.), Ziah Sneva (Fr.), Lauren Johnson (Fr.)
In the middle of the floor, the blockers will be anchored by Blažková, whose standout freshman season was capped off with selections to the All-WCC Second Team and All-WCC Freshman Team. Blažková easily led the team in blocks per set (1.20), which also ranked third in the WCC.
After losing starter Breccan Scheck to the transfer portal, Tulsa graduate transfer Lingenbrink will look to take her place. She took a step back in 2024 with two starts in 19 matches after starting 22 of 27 matches in 2023, but remained a steady presence for the Hurricane.
The rest of the rotation remains a question mark with Cleveland, a former JUCO transfer who redshirted last season, as the only returner. She may have an opportunity for more playing time this year, along with Sneva and Johnson, with Sneva bringing a load of experience and success from both high school and club teams.
Outside Hitters: Taryn Vrieling (Sr.), Melina Christodoulou (Gr.), Huamea Marumoto (So.), Mary Healy (R-So.), Eliana Ti’a (Fr.)
The group of outside hitters will look noticeably different this year with the absence of Sage Brustad, who spent all four of her collegiate years on the east side of the state between WSU and Eastern Washington. The All-WCC First Team pick led the team in service aces (42) and ranked second in the WCC in aces per set (0.38) while also finishing sixth in kills.
While Vrieling started just 15 of 27 matches last season, her 172 kills ranked fourth on the team, and she will step into Brustad’s role as a viable replacement. Vrieling’s experience at WSU will be needed in a group that lacks continuity.
Graduate transfer Melina Christodoulou appeared in 27 matches and 108 sets last season at Akron, 14 more than Vrieling. While the Zips struggled with an 11-19 record, Christodoulou crushed an impressive 347 kills and will likely occupy the other starting outside hitter position.
Hawaii native Marumoto, the other returner of the group, appeared in 15 matches last season and will have the opportunity to contribute off the bench again this season. Healy, an NC State transfer, and Ti’a, are both relatively inexperienced and will have to fight hard to earn playing time.
Opposites: Krista Dooley (R-So.), Kate Hayhurst (Fr.)
When a team loses a program great, it is often difficult to replace their production. That will certainly be the case after losing Ryan.
Ryan cracked 1,000 career kills last season and her 1,387 career points are the seventh most in program history. Ryan was also an All-WCC First Team selection last year and a part of three WSU NCAA tournament appearances. Ryan’s absence will be felt deeply on the right side of the attack.
Dooley, a Rutgers transfer, brings 15 matches of experience to the Cougs, while Hayhurst is entering her first collegiate season. The opposites are the weakest position group on the roster by far.
Schroeder may be forced to rotate some of his more experienced outside hitters in and out of the opposite spot, while Dooley will get an opportunity to contribute early.
Setters: Italia Bernal (So.), Livia Ward (Fr.)
Bernal, who started 19 of 27 games as a true freshman, brings a much-needed constant to the floor for the Cougs. The Mexico native led the team in total assists (806) and assists per game (7.53), good for seventh in the conference.
Ward may have a chance to contribute to the rotation as she comes in with an impressive high school resume. The 2025 Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year in Oklahoma led Mt. Saint Mary High School to three state championships and was named to the 2024 Prep Volleyball All-Season First Team.
Bernal is a strong passer, but Ward is Schroeder’s most impressive freshman addition and should find a solid role quickly.
