After a heartbreaking finish to volleyball’s season in 2025, head coach Trudy Vande Berg is looking to revamp the team’s identity. While the previous season featured stellar offensive performances, Vande Berg is looking to tap into the team’s defensive edge.
“I think we’re going to dig more balls, and we’re going to be much more difficult to score against this year,” Vande Berg highlighted. “[We’ll be] gritty, and feisty, and annoying in a good way.”
The team saw five seniors graduate, including four starters. Though the group lost its starting setter in Doğa Özalp, both outside hitters and key defensive players, the Red has returned with a new fire to continue building on what was a historic season.
“In the offseason, we worked really hard on figuring out who we were going to be for this season and [the team] fell right into it,” Vande Berg said. “The freshmen have been great, so I’m really excited.”
During this past recruiting season, Cornell welcomed four freshmen to the team, and they have each made significant impact during preseason training.
From outside hitter Kiran Rio’s crafty hitting, to outside hitters Charlotte Nowak and Ellery Williamson’s towering front row presence, to setter Navaeh Tien’s stifling back row defense, it is clear that each of these freshmen put in the work during the offseason to immediately contribute to the success of the team.
In addition, returning starters like senior libero Sara Pomar and sophomore setter Mikalya Gray have established a calming presence to this team’s evolving identity.
“Going into my sophomore year, I’m focused on being more consistent and taking on a bigger leadership role offensively,” Gray said. “Technically, I’ve been working a lot on keeping a faster tempo across the net and making creative plays to open up the seams.”
As the now-quarterback of the team’s offense, Gray has raised the bar for both herself and her teammates, emulating confidence in the face of uncertainty.
“I think a big part of my role is making sure everyone feels comfortable communicating with me and knows I have their back 100%,” Gray added. “The more we trust each other, the more natural our offense will flow.”
In the back row, Pomar is bringing the same energy that defines her personality and the team’s defensive identity.
“Having played for so long and being part of so many teams, I’ve learned how important the people around you and the culture you create together really are,” Pomar highlighted. “This group genuinely loves being around each other, and every person has an important role both on and off the court.”
The Red’s season is slated to start with the Cornell Invitational in just three days, and the pressure is on for the Red to finalize the starting line-up, serve-receive rotations and set plays.
“Every year we try to simulate a regular weekend tournament, so we’ll do a red-white scrimmage on Friday night, and then on Saturday we’ll play two matches against Ithaca College,” coach Vande Berg added. “That will get those nerves out, and it’ll help us identify more of a starting line-up without having to figure that out in a match that counts in the standings.”
As another season heads underway, there is one philosophy that coach Vande Berg believes has held true in all prior seasons, and will be especially true for this one: “defense wins championships.”
The Cornell Invitational will run from Friday, Sept. 4 through the following day at Newman Arena. The Red will take on the Howard Bisons, University at Albany Great Danes and the Syracuse Orange. Further details are available on the Cornell Athletics webpage, and coverage will be available throughout the weekend on ESPN+.
