QUINCY, Ill. – A new-look Quincy University women's volleyball team gets its first test of the 2026 season this weekend as the Hawks travel to Detroit, Michigan, for four matches in two days at the Warrior Invitational, hosted by Wayne State University at the Matthaei Center.

Quincy opens the tournament Friday, August 28, at 9:00 AM against Northwood University before facing host Wayne State at 1:30 PM The Hawks return Saturday for a 9:00 AM matchup with Indiana University of Pennsylvania before closing the weekend against Hillsdale College at 1:45 PM.

The weekend will provide an immediate measuring stick for a Quincy team replacing the majority of its production from a squad that finished 24-7 overall and 11-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play last season.

The Hawks reached the GLVC Championship match and earned their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance before falling in the opening round of the Midwest Regional. Quincy enters 2026 picked fourth in the GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

A New-Look Group

Head coach Mark Jones enters his eighth season leading a Quincy program that has established itself as one of the most consistent in the Midwest Region.

The Hawks have won at least 24 matches and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons, but maintaining that run will require a largely new group to develop quickly.

Quincy's 27-player roster features only nine returners alongside 16 freshmen and two transfers. Just two returning players appeared in more than 50 sets last season, leaving the Hawks with one of their least experienced groups in recent years.

Senior middle blocker Erin Matzke headlines the returning group after recording 207 kills with a .309 hitting percentage and a team-leading 75 blocks last season. Selin Turgut also returns after contributing 206 kills, 336 digs, 30 service aces and 48 blocks.

The Hawks will have to replace their top two attackers from last season, who combined for 913 kills, along with several other major contributors throughout the lineup.

That youth will be tested immediately against four opponents featuring significantly more roster continuity.

Early-Season Success

Quincy has found plenty of success in early-season tournament play in recent years. The Hawks went 9-2 across their three early-season tournaments in 2025 and finished 12-4 overall in neutral-site matches.

This year's opening weekend presents a different challenge, however, with all four opponents returning the majority of their respective rosters. Northwood brings back 12 players, Wayne State returns 13, IUP returns nearly its entire team and Hillsdale welcomes back 12 players from last year's squad.

Friday Morning: Northwood

The Hawks begin the season against Northwood at 9:00 AM Friday.

The Timberwolves finished 11-14 overall and 6-9 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play last season while posting a 5-2 record in neutral-site matches. Northwood was picked to finish third in the G-MAC North Division preseason poll.

Head coach Dave Shumaker enters his 26th season as a collegiate head coach and his 11th leading the Timberwolves. Shumaker owns a 478-345 career record and a 128-140 mark at Northwood.

Quincy holds a 3-1 advantage in the series dating back to 2010, with all four previous meetings taking place at neutral sites.

Northwood returns 12 of 19 players but must replace its leading attacker and primary setter from last season.

Junior middle blocker Mackenzie Scheid is one of the Timberwolves' top returning threats after finishing second on the team with 192 kills. Scheid also led Northwood with 46 service aces, the second-most in the G-MAC, while adding 50 blocks.

Senior outside hitter Olivia Nester returns after recording 189 kills, while junior middle blocker Soleil Allen is back after leading the team with 69 total blocks.

Defensively, senior Laney Kokaly returns after pacing the Timberwolves with 425 digs.

Friday Afternoon: Host Wayne State

Quincy's second match of the day provides one of its toughest tests of the weekend.

Wayne State finished 24-6 overall and 13-3 in GLIAC play last season, tying for the regular-season conference championship before winning the GLIAC Tournament title. The Warriors advanced to the NCAA Tournament and enter 2026 picked third in the GLIAC preseason poll behind powerhouses Ferris State and Grand Valley State.

Wayne State was especially difficult to beat inside the Matthaei Center, finishing 12-1 at home last season. 

The matchup also features a familiar name for Quincy volleyball.

Warriors head coach Tim Koth coached at Quincy from 1996-2004 and enters his 32nd season as a collegiate head coach. Koth owns a 462-414 career record and begins his 13th season at Wayne State with a 179-149 mark.

Quincy leads the all-time series 2-1. The teams last met twice during the 2022 season, with the Hawks earning 3-1 victories at both the Midwest Region Crossover and inside the Matthaei Center.

Wayne State returns 13 of 18 players from last year's championship team. Senior outside hitter Paige Giehtbrock is the Warriors' leading returning attacker after recording 318 kills, an average of 2.81 per set, while also collecting 298 digs.

Senior setter Kayla Dulgar returns after directing one of the GLIAC's top offenses. Dulgar recorded 1,190 assists last season, ranking second in the conference and 19th nationally. Her 10.53 assists per set led the GLIAC and ranked 21st in Division II. She also led Wayne State with 40 service aces.

Sophomore middle blocker Katerina Stout returns after an impressive freshman season that included 188 kills and 119 blocks, the third-most in the GLIAC.

As a team, Wayne State led the GLIAC with 13.76 kills per set and 2.37 blocks per set while ranking second with a .241 hitting percentage.

Saturday Morning: Indiana (PA)

Quincy's Saturday begins with a first-ever meeting against Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

IUP finished 23-9 overall and 9-5 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play last season, finishing second in the PSAC West.

The Crimson Hawks then made a run in the NCAA Tournament, winning two matches before falling to Gannon in the Atlantic Region Championship. IUP has now won at least 20 matches in four consecutive seasons and was picked second in the PSAC West preseason poll.

Head coach Avery Moore enters her second season leading a program that brings back nearly its entire roster from last year.

The Crimson Hawks return each of their top five attackers.

Junior right side Jessica Neiman led the group with 373 kills and 3.55 kills per set while also pacing IUP with 45 service aces. Senior outside hitter Delaney Concannon was just behind her with 370 kills and 3.52 kills per set while adding 364 digs.

Junior middle blocker Charlotte Potvin returns after recording 256 kills and a team-leading 78 blocks, while Peyton Belcher and Kyra Schmidt provide additional returning offensive options.

Setter Elliot Rauch also returns after recording 1,168 assists and 10.72 assists per set, the second-best mark in the PSAC and 18th-best in Division II. Defensively, Brooke Kessler returns after leading the team with 418 digs.

IUP led the PSAC with 13.5 kills per set last season, making Saturday morning another major early-season test for Quincy's rebuilt lineup.

Saturday Afternoon: Hillsdale

The Hawks close the weekend against one of the most established programs in the G-MAC.

Hillsdale finished 14-12 overall and 11-4 in conference play last season, placing second in the G-MAC North Division. The Chargers were picked to win the North Division in this year's preseason poll.

Head coach Chris Gravel enters his 31st season leading Hillsdale with a career record of 641-295. Last year's 14-win campaign represented an unusual season for the longtime G-MAC power, marking the first time since 2016 the Chargers failed to reach 20 victories.

Quincy has won both previous meetings with Hillsdale in straight sets, dating back to 2000. The most recent matchup came during the 2023 Midwest Region Crossover in Hammond, Indiana.

Hillsdale returns 12 of 15 players from last year's roster but will replace its kills leader and primary setter.

Sophomore middle hitter Caroline Lanicek is the leading returning attacker after finishing with 198 kills and 2.15 kills per set. Grace Drake provides experience at setter after appearing in 71 sets and recording 304 assists last season.

Chloe Pierce returns after leading the Chargers with 26 service aces and 336 digs, while Hillsdale also brings back its leading blocker from a season ago after an 86-block campaign. The Chargers ranked second in the G-MAC with 2.16 blocks per set last season.

Four Matches, Plenty to Learn

The opening weekend should give Quincy an early indication of where its dramatically reworked roster stands.

The Hawks will face four programs that return considerably more experience, including a defending conference champion in Wayne State, an NCAA regional finalist in IUP and a perennial conference contender in Hillsdale.

For Quincy, the challenge will be integrating a large freshman class and new contributors while maintaining the standard established during four consecutive 24-win seasons.

The Hawks have traditionally been successful in early-season tournament play, but this weekend will provide a different type of challenge as one of the youngest Quincy rosters in recent memory begins to establish its identity.

Tournament Central