The College of Wooster volleyball team has plenty to look forward to in 2025, including a revamped roster which includes more depth and 10 fresh faces.

The Scots lost four seniors from a year ago in a 12-18 campaign. That included its top two attackers in Amelia Mitchell and Tamara Turner, who combined for almost half of the team's kills (554).

However, the Scots bring 10 newcomers and increase their roster depth to 18, upping from its roster size of 12 they had in 2024.

"We're really excited about the depth we have for this season, and the vibrancy a roster of 18 brings," Davis said. "The NCAC is a tough conference, and these 18 players are committed to the work it takes to be competitive night in and night out."

This year's team features just one senior, Izzy Cozzie, who connected on 215 kills a year ago. She returns as one of the team's top attackers.

Junior Jordan Laraway is another who will more likely fill a bigger role after making 163 kills last year. Kora Burill, Mary-Catherine Werth and first-years Ireland Oswick and Caitlin Walsh-Knouff fill out the attacking core.

"This team is full of great leaders with excellent character from our senior Izzy to some very promising first-years," Davis said. "We're really looking forward to coaching this group."

Speaking of coaching, Davis gets help from her assistant coach, Hallie Taylor, and volunteer assistants, David Yoder and Lydia Spidell. Taylor is in her second year with the program; Yoder returns after a stint leading Smithville High School and Spidell is a former All-NCAC middle blocker for the Scots.

An unfortunate setback is with their main setter in Emma Fleck, who is out for at least the first half of the season with an injury. The junior made 889 assists last year, averaging 7.9 assists per set. It was the fifth-most in a single season for a Scot over the last 17 seasons.

The Scots will turn to first-years Kennedy Muhlenkamp and Erin Ellis to take over the setter role in Fleck's absence.

"Both have a lot of high-level competitive experience coming in and have had a strong pre-season," Davis said. "They are both setters with good size and versatility in their game. Emma has been with them and done a great job mentoring the first years while she rehabs."

Davis will also have to rely on newcomers to fill the middles along with the departure of starting libero Lucy Kinser. Ava Hills, Tamarra Talbert, and Evelyn Hackney join Burill as options.

On the other side of the coin, the defense has some of the team's best depth with returnees Natalie Hohman, Catherine Muzilla, Addie Gardner, and Bri Headen, who transferred to Wooster in the spring.

"They had an excellent spring and improved their serve review and defense," Davis said. "We also added some explosive first years in Shaylynn Rogaski and Adeline Zinger."

The team knows it will have its fair share of challenges coming into the year with it new faces and the competitive play within the NCAC. However, they plan to continue to build off last year's positive momentum after reaching double digit wins, the most since their record 20-9 season in 2021.

"With both starting middles, starting libero, and starting setter out of the picture we will have to have some younger players step into important rolls quickly," Davis said. "The good news is we have 10 new faces to help fill those gaps, and eight healthy returners who will are all very capable of taking on the leadership we lost to graduation/injury."

Wooster opens the season with four games at the Great Lakes Crossover, starting with contests versus North Park and Worcester State. 

Wooster's home opener is Sept. 3 when they host Capital University. The annual Ginny Hunt Kilt Classic runs Sept. 12-13 and Wooster's first NCAC contest is Sept. 27 at Kenyon College.