Cal Lutheran women's volleyball is set to begin its 2025 season this afternoon at the Pacific Coast Classic against St. Olaf.

The Regals are coming off a T-5th-place finish in the SCIAC. They will have to replace a couple big contributors up front with All-American middle hitter Kira Mortensen, All-SCIAC outside hitter Sophia Muller, and starting setter Tess Holbert all graduating from the program. Adding to that, an unfortunate knee injury to senior right side Caitlin Murphy will keep her out for most of the year. Murphy was third on the team in kills last season behind Mortensen and Muller.

Despite the many holes to fill, the Regals have a capable group under longtime head coach Kellee Roesel. The back row will be a strength, as junior libero Keegan Corley and sophomore defensive specialist Alexis Holloway are both returning after contributing heavily last season. Corley ranked 2nd in the SCIAC in digs per set, and Holloway immediately made her presence felt with 137 digs in her first year as a Regal.

Up front, the duo of Tarin Rueckert and Alex Hayes showed potential last year, as Rueckert piled up 98 kills and Hayes added 53.0 blocks. Setters Makenna Kawamura and Kylee Grimm saw action as well, producing 137 and 109 assists, respectively. Each of these players will look to build on the 2024 season with more opportunities available this fall.

Cal Lutheran will begin the season at the Pacific Coast Classic hosted by Pomona-Pitzer and CMS before heading up to Oregon. The Regals will then return to host the annual Cal-Lu-Fornia Invitational on September 12 and 13, wrapping up non-conference play before competing in the gauntlet that is the SCIAC.

The Regals will face off against Linfield twice–once up in Oregon and once during the Cal-Lu-Fornia. Linfield's new head coach, Jenna Street, was a four-year letter winner at Cal Lutheran and a member of the 2006 team that reached the Elite 8, Roesel's first year as head coach.

On her team's upcoming season, Roesel remarked, "The first few weeks will provide a lot of answers with such a young team–but everyone is all in, hard working, tough, and has a good perspective. I've been impressed with their work ethic and attitude, and they are focused on the process."

The Regals begin their season at 2:15pm today against St. Olaf, with the match to be played at Pomona-Pitzer.