Troy’s volleyball team heads into this season with high expectations and a seasoned squad that only graduated one player.
Julia Brooks, the lone player leaving the program, leaves some big shoes to fill in the Trojan defense. Brooks leaves the Trojans as the all-time leader in total, solo and block assists.
“Julia was with us for five seasons so the middle position without her has got to develop its own identity,” said head coach Josh Lauer. “It will be an exciting piece of the season to see how they mature and the kind of group they turn into.”
The Trojans are thrilled to return all of their outside hitters including standout Tori Hester, who is entering her senior season. Hester led the Trojans in aces with 45 and kills with 442 en route to her second consecutive first team All-Sun Belt season.
Hester will continue to be a focal point in the Trojan offense alongside junior Amiah Butler, who amassed 353 kills on court last season.
Setter Janelle Stuempfig will also look to build on her impressive 2023 season in which she tallied 1,084 assists and won three Sun Belt Setter of the Week honors. Stuempfig was also named to the Sun Belt All-Conference Second Team during her first full season.
The Trojans are looking to build on their fantastic season last year in which they started 10-0 and finished with a team best record at 12-4 during Sun Belt Conference play.
During the summer, the Troy women’s volleyball team had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica to impact the community by sharing their skills through youth clinics and gaining international match experience.
This energizing experience and the momentum of coming off a historic season for the program bodes well for continued success for the Trojans.
“It allowed us to practice a little over the summer, which was super important with a bigger squad and five new players,” said Lauer. “We were going there with a purpose to bond, give back to the community and grow culturally.”
Troy will begin the year with an exhibition against non-conference rival Jacksonville State in Jacksonville on Aug 17.
Regular season play will begin with a three-match slate including Maryland, New Hampshire and LSU in Baton Rouge on Aug 30.
Troy’s volleyball home opener will be played on Sept. 7 against Cal Poly in the first matchup between the programs.
Comments