Volleyball: 2025 Season Outlook

Links: 2025 Roster | 2025 Schedule | 2025 Coaches | 2024 Statistics

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - A new season opens up an infinite range of possibilities.

The Williams College women's volleyball team is excited for the 2025 journey, as the Ephs start their season with a 5 p.m. non-conference match against Skidmore on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Chandler Gymnasium.

"This is going to be an exciting year for Williams' volleyball," said junior setter Morgan Daetz '27. "We learned a lot about ourselves last season, taking the time to reflect on our strengths and weaknesses, and used those conversations as motivation in the spring season. Since then, we have only gotten stronger, both physically and through the connections we have built on and off the court. Thanks to the work we put in during the offseason, we are starting with a solid foundation that puts us in a strong position to compete from day one."

The Ephs return Daetz, alongside captains Kami Israelski '26, Sydney Eyestone '26, Annaliese Fricke '26 and Helen Qian '26, Keely Campuzano '27, Tatum Baker '27, Lilly Carstens '28, Lilly Fox '28, Kate Lane '28, Chi Obi '28 and Maya Thompson '28.

Adam Gulick enters his third year with the program, serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, while Madison Kelsey and Vanessa Brown also return as vital assistants. Williams is thrilled to welcome Zoe Nuland '29, Sophia Baer '29, Adalena Rodgers '29, Elsa Miller '29 and Eve Kaplan '29.

"We are excited about our team for this year," said 17th-year head coach Christi Kelsey. "We have an incredibly strong returning core of experienced student-athletes and leaders. They have all invested a lot since last season in their preparation for what is ahead and in each other. There is a foundation of confidence and optimism that has been fun to see strengthen and develop in what we learned through our competitive experience last year and in our work leading up to the start of this fall. Add to that a great group of first years that we are excited about welcoming to Williams and to our volleyball family and it makes for a fun energy and enthusiasm surrounding our team heading into the months ahead."

The program will compete in 24 regular-season matches, with 10 NESCAC contests and eight home events. Williams opens conference action with a 7 p.m. match at Trinity on Friday, Sept. 19, in Hartford, Connecticut, and then the team's first home NESCAC contest is against Middlebury at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. The unit competes against Wesleyan on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in Middletown, Connecticut, and then hosts Amherst in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

"The Little Three matches against Wesleyan and Amherst are always exciting, but our team looks forward to playing any of the NESCAC teams," said Daetz. "Our conference is competitive and it could be anyone's game on a given night. We are excited about the chance to play in New York City against NYU and Kean. It is a great opportunity not only to face strong programs, but also to play in front of family, friends and former teammates who live in the area."
 
The Ephs have compiled an abundance of success since Kelsey took over the reins of the program in 2009, as the group has reached six NCAA Division III Tournaments, four Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight berth. Williams has also won NESCAC Championships in 2009, 2013 and 2014, while qualifying for the conference tournament in all 15 competitive seasons under Kelsey's guidance.

During the 2024 season, the sixth-seeded Ephs posted a signature win in the NESCAC Quarterfinals, outlasting third-seeded Tufts, 3-2, on Nov. 9 in Medford, Massachusetts. Campuzano was named to the NESCAC All-Conference First Team and was recognized with College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District laurels. The group also excelled in the classroom, earning the 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic award with Honor Roll distinction. The 2022 and 2023 teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament, with the 2022 squad making a run to the Sweet 16 and the 2023 unit earning runner-up honors during the NESCAC Tournament.

"The keys to our success this season will be capitalizing on the talent we have across the roster and staying committed to the process," said Daetz. "That means showing up every day ready to compete, pushing ourselves in practice and continuing to build on the strong relationships we have on this team."
 

Written by Trevor Wenners
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
tw11@williams.edu