QUINCY, Ill. - The Quincy University women's volleyball team enters the 2026 season with a much different look as the Hawks prepare to replace a large portion of a roster that helped continue one of the strongest stretches in program history.

Head coach Mark Jones enters his eighth season at the helm of the Hawks with a 149-59 career record at Quincy. He is joined by assistant coach Erik Krenz, who enters his second season on staff, and first-year graduate assistant Matt Finn.

Quincy has posted at least 24 victories in each of the last four seasons while earning an NCAA Tournament berth every year during that stretch. The Hawks finished the 2025 campaign with a 24-7 overall record and an 11-2 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. QU advanced to the GLVC Championship match before falling to Missouri-St. Louis, then saw its season conclude against Ferris State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Hawks will attempt to continue that run with one of the youngest and most inexperienced rosters Jones has had during his tenure.

Quincy enters the season with 27 players, including just nine returners from last year's roster, along with 16 freshmen and two transfers. Of those nine returning players, only two appeared in more than 50 sets last season, with both serving as regular starters.

Returning Experience

Leading the group of returners is senior middle blocker Erin Matzke, one of just two returning starters for the Hawks.

Matzke appeared in and started all 31 matches for the third consecutive season last year, playing in 110 sets. For the second straight season, she led Quincy with 75.0 total blocks, including 24 solo blocks and 51 block assists, while averaging 0.68 blocks per set.

She also ranked third on the team with 207 kills out of the middle, averaging 1.88 kills per set while hitting .309. Matzke finished the season with 256.5 points and averaged 2.44 points per set.

After appearing in 92 matches and 342 sets over her first three seasons at Quincy, Matzke enters 2026 as the most experienced player on the roster and will be expected to take on an even larger leadership role both on and off the court.

Senior outside hitter Selin Turgut is the other returning starter.

Turgut started all 31 matches last season and appeared in 108 sets. She ranked fourth on the team with 206 kills, averaging 1.91 per set, and finished third on the team with 263.5 points at 2.44 points per set.

Her impact extended well beyond the attack, as Turgut also recorded 30 service aces, 336 digs and 48.0 total blocks. She averaged 3.11 digs per set and 0.44 blocks per set while providing the Hawks with one of their most well-rounded presences on the floor.

With Quincy losing its top two attackers from a season ago, Turgut could be asked to take another step forward offensively and potentially become one of the Hawks' primary options on the outside.

Open Competition at Setter and Libero

Two of the biggest questions entering the season come at setter and libero, where the Hawks will look to replace established starters from last year's squad.

At setter, senior Macey Rocco enters her fourth collegiate season and second with Quincy. With only two setters listed on the roster, Rocco immediately becomes one of the players to watch during preseason camp.

Rocco was primarily utilized as a serving specialist during her first season with the Hawks, appearing in 15 matches and 48 sets. She recorded 10 service aces and six digs.

With the starting setter position available, Rocco will have an opportunity to step into a significantly larger role in 2026.

Sophomore Gianna Del Bosque is the other returning setter on the roster. Del Bosque did not see game action during her freshman season but enters year two in the program with an opportunity to compete for playing time at one of the most important positions on the floor.

The libero position could feature similar competition.

Senior Amber Glen enters her fourth season in the program and brings previous experience in the role.

Glen appeared in 16 matches and 45 sets last season, primarily as a serving specialist, recording six assists, 10 service aces and 13 digs.

Across three seasons with the Hawks, she has appeared in 54 matches and 171 sets. Her most extensive action came as a freshman in 2023 when she served as Quincy's primary libero, appearing in all 30 matches and ranking second on the team with 376 digs.

Junior Milica Stamenic will also look to compete for an expanded role. Stamenic has appeared in five matches and 12 sets across her first two seasons at Quincy but now enters her third year in the program as one of the upperclassmen on an otherwise young roster.

Sophomore Sharon Philip adds another returning option in the back row after not seeing game action during her freshman season.

Searching for Offense

One of the largest challenges facing Quincy will be replacing a considerable amount of offensive production.

The Hawks lost their top two attackers from last season, who combined for 913 kills, creating opportunities for both returning players and newcomers to emerge on the outside.

Senior Blaike Knolhoff and sophomore Lily Fjell are two returning outside hitters who could see their roles expand.

Knolhoff enters her fourth season with the program but has appeared in just one collegiate match. Fjell saw her first action late last season, entering for one point during Quincy's final match of the year after an injury.

Both now enter preseason practice with an opportunity to compete for considerably more playing time as the Hawks rebuild their outside attack.

Transfers Add Experience

Quincy added two transfers to the 2026 roster, including sophomore outside hitter Dasha Safronova.

Safronova transferred from the University of Charleston in West Virginia, where she did not see match action. Although she was not officially part of Quincy's 2025 roster, Safronova arrived during the second semester and was able to spend the spring working with the Hawks' current players and coaching staff.

Senior libero Faith Kientzle brings additional collegiate experience to the defensive unit after previous stops at Lincoln Land Community College and John Wood Community College before most recently playing club volleyball at Ole Miss.

As a freshman at Lincoln Land, Kientzle appeared in 28 matches and 81 sets, collecting 174 digs for an average of 2.15 per set while adding 25 assists and 17 service aces. She followed that season with 342 digs across 27 matches and 98 sets at John Wood, averaging 3.49 digs per set while totaling 46 assists and 29 service aces.

Her experience gives the Hawks another option in what could be one of the most competitive position battles of preseason camp.

Large Freshman Class Arrives

The biggest piece of Quincy's roster transformation comes from a 16-player freshman class that will have an immediate opportunity to compete. The incoming class consists of five middle blockers, six liberos and five outside hitters.

With starting positions and significant playing time available throughout the lineup, the Hawks' coaching staff will have plenty to evaluate during the weeks leading up to the season opener.

While youth will be unavoidable with nearly 60 percent of the roster consisting of freshmen, the size of the class also gives Quincy considerable depth and competition throughout preseason practice.

For a program that has reached four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, the challenge will be finding the right combination quickly enough to maintain that standard with one of its youngest and most inexperienced rosters in recent memory.

The Hawks have already begun preseason practice ahead of their first competition of the 2026 season. Quincy opens the year on Friday, August 28 at the Warrior Invitational, facing Northwood University at 9:00 AM before taking on host Wayne State University at 1:30 PM.

For a complete look at the Hawks' 2026 schedule, click here.