On August 22nd, NCAA Volleyball will roar back to life with the AVCA First Serve Showcase, peeling back the curtain on the 2025 Division I campaign. ESPN remains the unmatched kingmaker of collegiate sports, and the broadcasting giant is set to place volleyball on a higher pedestal next term by broadcasting a record-breaking 2,600 games. For fans, coaches, and the players themselves, the spotlight has never burned brighter, and the pressure is on to deliver in front of more eyeballs than ever before.
With a blockbuster new campaign just around the corner, preseason preparations for the new season couldn’t be more important. So, with that being said, what are the biggest talking points heading into an unprecedented new year, and which programs are looking to stake their claim? Let’s take a look.
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Penn State’s Quest for a Dynasty
After powering to a near-perfect 35-2 campaign in 2024, online sportsbooks, perhaps surprisingly, made Penn State a huge outsider heading into last season’s NCAA Tournament. Websites such as the popular Bovada online sportsbook had them listed as a whopping +1500 underdog, and the Nittany Lions duly set about the task of proving the doubters wrong by knocking off the heavily favored Pittsburgh to punch their ticket to the finals. There they met a Louisville Cardinals side backed by a partisan home crowd in Kentucky, and the Nittany Lions duly upset the odds once more, winning 3-1 to claim their eighth national championship.
Now, the reigning champions are anything but satisfied. Ranked No. 2 in the latest AVCA preseason poll with 1,459 points and 21 first-place nods, this squad still bristles with hunger and ambition.
What makes them so dangerous? Start with Jess Mruzik, a relentless outside hitter whose 2024 campaign showcased a rare blend of explosive offense – leading the team in kills – maturity under pressure, and an almost surgical court vision. Her return is not just a boost; it’s a statement. Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley has energized the program, sharpening the team’s defense-to-offense transitions with remarkable attention to detail. This is a roster that trusts in system and culture, not just superstars.
But here’s the twist: eight national championships cement a legacy; chasing a ninth is a journey into uncharted territory. In a league buzzing with firepower, Penn State will need every ounce of poise and every tactical wrinkle to stay ahead.
Nebraska Tops Big Ten Preseason Poll
If you’re searching for pressure, look no further than Lincoln. Nebraska enters as the Big Ten preseason favorite—deservedly so after a 33-3 run in 2024—but the drama is dialed up to eleven with the introduction of new head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. She’s not just any hire: the 40-year-old arrives carrying championship experience and an uncompromising defensive mentality.
The expectations? Monumental. The roster? Harper Murray delivers for Nebraska as a versatile threat, excelling in both offensive strikes and serve-receive. Statistically, the Huskers were the Big Ten’s gold standard in first-contact situations last year, suffocating opponents with a block that transformed every net exchange into a chess match.
But can Busboom Kelly accelerate offensive chemistry as efficiently as she organizes the defense? Fans in Lincoln are used to banners, not rebuilds. September will reveal how quickly this storied machine can run up to full throttle.
Transfer Portal Shakes Up
If 2025 proves one truth, it’s that the transfer portal has become the sport’s great equalizer—and destabilizer. The names on the move are eye-popping; the implications, impossible to ignore.
Texas responded to the loss of Madisen Skinner with a direct counterpunch, luring in Pittsburgh’s two-time All-American Torrey Stafford. Last season’s numbers—topping 470 kills and adding 132 blocks—showcase her ability to change the course of a match on her own.
SMU orchestrated a coup, grabbing USC’s proven shot-blocker, Favor Anyanwu, plus Jadyn Livings at setter and Big South defensive ace Jordyn Schilling. Kentucky pulled off a coup of its own: 2024 Big Ten kills leader Eva Hudson, who averaged a staggering 4.81 per set. Wisconsin pounced as well, snapping up AVCA Freshman of the Year Mimi Colyer from Oregon, Miami’s Grace Lopez, and Ohio State’s defensive maestro Grace Egan, all in one fell swoop.
The question now: who adapts fastest? Chemistry isn’t just a buzzword—it will determine who rises in the chaos and who falls through the cracks.
Louisville’s Post-Coaching Transition
The Cardinals wear their 30-6 record and No. 4 preseason ranking with pride, but their trajectory is tangled in uncertainty after coach Busboom Kelly’s high-profile departure for Nebraska. Continuity rests on the formidable shoulders of Anna DeBeer, a steadying force whose leadership extends from the huddle to every decisive set point.
But this isn’t a defensive standoff. Chloe Chicoine, arriving from Purdue, brings both power and versatility—qualities that could be key in reenergizing the offense after Charitie Luper’s exit. Still, this campaign is about more than numbers. Can Louisville parlay its defensive philosophy and depth into another Final Four berth, or will transitional hiccups dim its postseason promise?
