North STL News

The University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) volleyball team has been projected to finish fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) for the 2025 season, according to the league’s annual preseason poll. The poll was determined by votes from the conference’s 14 head coaches, with each coach prohibited from voting for their own team.

Lewis University received the highest ranking, earning 152 points and five first-place votes. Quincy University followed closely with 150 points and four first-place votes, while Rockhurst secured third place with 147 points and two first-place votes. UMSL was ranked just ahead of Maryville for fourth place, gathering 139 points and two first-place votes. Maryville rounded out the top five with one first-place vote and a total of 136 points.

UMSL finished last season with a record of 19-9 overall and an 8-5 mark in GLVC play, advancing to both the conference tournament and NCAA Tournament.

Head coach Ryan Young enters his fifteenth year leading the Tritons and returns five All-GLVC players from last season’s roster. These include Alayna Santel, who was named AVCA Midwest Region and GLVC Freshman of the Year; Caitlin Bishop, who earned honorable mention honors; as well as second-team All-GLVC selections Hannah Copeland, Iyannah Jackson, and Skylar Weaver.

Bishop was recognized as the 2023 GLVC Player of the Year after leading the conference in assists per set (12.12), which also placed her third nationally in Division II. Santel ranked eighth in kills within the GLVC (377) and tenth in kills per set (3.56). Weaver finished fourth in both total digs (545) and digs per set (5.14). Copeland (.339) and Jackson (.305) ranked second and fourth respectively in hitting percentage among all league players.

The Tritons will start their new season at the McKendree Invitational in Lebanon, Illinois on September 5-6, facing Michigan Tech, Purdue Northwest, Southwestern Oklahoma State, and Minnesota-Duluth across four matches.

The following weekend sees UMSL traveling to Nebraska-Kearney's Rosella Meier Fall Classic for matches against South Dakota School of Mines, Nebraska-Kearney, Sioux Falls (S.D.), and Adams State (Colo.).

Conference play begins on September 26 when UMSL visits Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. The Tritons’ home opener is scheduled for October 3 against Illinois Springfield. The annual GLVC Tournament will be held November 21-23 at Williamsville High School Fieldhouse in Williamsville, Illinois.

Coach Young commented on his returning squad: "We are excited about what this group can accomplish this season given our experience coming back."