STORM LAKE, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2026) - The Buena Vista University volleyball team begins its 2026 season this weekend, and a veteran Beaver led team is eager to get back to competing and working to get back into the A-R-C Tournament.

The Beavers made the conference tournament championship match during head coach Will Baumann’s first year on campus in 2022 but has missed out on the tournament in each of the last three campaigns. A strong nucleus and experienced roster is back in 2026, and that has the team eager to get itself back into the tournament mix.

BVU takes the floor this season with five starters returning for Baumann and 10 total players who played in at least 20 sets a year ago. Among the group is six seniors who have helped build the foundation for the program since Baumann’s arrival.

“These players have seen quite a swing in our program since coming to campus,” says Baumann. “We will look to these players for leadership both on and off the court. Culturally, we are in a place to take off thanks to their commitment!”

Baumann has also added to the mix what could arguably be among his most talented incoming group of players. The Beavers enter fall camp with more than 25 players on the roster, and he’s been pleased with how the energy and culture has been throughout fall camp.

Sophomore Charley Hernandez earned honorable mention all-conference as a freshman last year and ranked third in the A-R-C averaging 3.54 kills per set during league play. Her 85 total kills over that span was the sixth-highest total. Her 4.17 digs per set was sixth. For the year, she chalked up 11 double-doubles overall (kills and digs).

Senior Sydney Meints is the other returner who registered over 100 kills (135) and ranked third overall on the team. She has played in 54 career matches and is closing in on 300 kills for a career. Junior Ashlyne Havermann and senior Hope Vanderlinden each tied for fourth with 89 total kills. Junior Merced Ramirez took on the team’s role as the primary setter and dished out 467 assists and ranked fourth in assists per set (5.91). Haverman, who was in her first season at BVU, and Hernandez were first and second, respectively, on the team in serving with 34 and 30 ace serves.  As a team, BVU ranked right in the middle of the pack among A-R-C teams with a .162 overall attack percentage and was fourth in ace serves.

BVU improved on the defensive front throughout last season, and with its returning experience and depth, Baumann says it’s an area his team needs to be even stronger in 2026.

“I believe both our defense and offense will level up this season based on the early season sessions I have seen throughout camp. “We continue to look forward to this preseason and install process.”

Havermann and Hernandez led the way last season with 3.36 and 3.30 digs per set and combined for 27 total blocks. Ramirez was right behind with 2.89 digs per set and 12 blocks. She has combined for 506 career digs over her first two years.  The trio was each ranked in the top 20 of the A-R-C in digs per set.

The Beavers have the luxury of playing their first three A-R-C matches this season on the Saggau Family Court inside Siebens Fieldhouse.  The team was 3-4 on its home court a year ago and finished 6-1 on campus during Baumann’s first season.

“Our non-conference schedule has been thought through and will give our program the challenge needed to attack the A-R-C season,” says Baumann. “As always, the A-R-C will be very competitive.  We're looking forward to the challenges and successes it will bring.”