Millikin volleyball enters 2026 season with battle-tested mindset

Decatur, IL — Millikin University volleyball is entering the season pumped to get going with a mindset of being one percent better every single day.

The 2025 season concluded with an overall winning record of 15-14 (5-3 CCIW) after Millikin finished third in the CCIW Tournament.

Millikin volleyball has set itself up with a battlefield of a schedule to overcome adversity where it matters while growing as individuals on and off the court. The team is going up against a handful of ranked teams to build mental toughness this season leading up to conference play; this skill will be critical to come out on top.

The Big Blue coaching staff has brought on 15 newcomers with bright futures. Head coach Whitney Nichols mentions that four freshmen and two transfers have made an "immediate impact" through preseason scrimmages.

Kyra Carothers, senior captain, led the team with a hitting percentage of .296 and 118 blocks in the 2025 season. Setter and captain Alyssa Frederking finished last season with 706 assists and 217 digs. These two returners are the foundation for the depth that has joined the roster.

Coach Nichols enters her third season with assistant coaches Hannah Dick and Taylor Jones by her side. Goals this season include staying present and celebrating the little things; Nichols calls this team special and wants to maintain that balance while competing at a high level.

"Testing ourselves right out of the gate is exactly what we need," Nichols says as the Big Blue open with a match against a team that has received votes in the national top 25 AVCA poll. She adds, "No better way to open up the season than right here in Gris against a tough [UChicago] team!"

Women's volleyball opens at home in Griswold Center in Decatur, Illinois, on Tuesday, September 1 versus University of Chicago at 6 p.m. on the CCIW Network.