IWU CLASSIC | Tuesday, Sept. 1 | Bloomington, Ill.
Wartburg vs Illinois Wesleyan | 2 p.m.
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Wartburg vs Aurora | 4 p.m. | Bloomington, Ill.
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CARTHAGE INVITE | Friday, Sept. 4 – Saturday, Sept. 5 | Kenosha, Wis.
Wartburg vs UW-Stevens Point | Friday, Sept. 4 | 5 p.m.
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Wartburg vs Centre | Saturday, Sept. 5 | 10 a.m.
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Wartburg vs Carthage | Saturday, Sept. 5 | 2 p.m.
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The Wartburg College volleyball team opens its 2026 campaign Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the IWU Classic in Bloomington, Illinois, before continuing its opening-weekend road trip at the Carthage Invite in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Sept. 4-5.

Wartburg begins the season against No.8-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University at 2 p.m. Tuesday before facing Aurora University at 4 p.m. The Knights then travel to Kenosha for the Carthage Invite, opening Friday against UW-Stevens Point at 5 p.m. Wartburg concludes the weekend Saturday with Centre College at 10 a.m., followed by host Carthage College at 2 p.m.

Head coach DeAnn Akins enters her second season at the helm of the Wartburg volleyball program after leading the Knights to a 15-12 overall record in 2025. Wartburg advanced to the first round of the American Rivers Conference Tournament, where its season ended with a 3-1 loss to third-seeded Simpson College.

The Knights return AVCA All-Region and All-Conference middle hitter Anna Sash, who paced the team with 259 kills and 122.0 blocks last season. Sash started all 27 matches and recorded 52 solo blocks, the third-most in a single season in program history.

MEET THE KNIGHTS

• Wartburg returns 16 players from last season while welcoming two junior college transfers and nine incoming freshmen.
• The Knights feature four seniors in Peyton Robinson (Lisbon, Iowa), Alexa Melcher (Elk River, Minn.), Leah Hayungs (Orange City, Iowa), and Sophie Williams (Plainfield, Ill.).
• Wartburg adds a pair of junior college transfers in Emma Liechti (Ankeny, Iowa/Des Moines Area CC) and Emily Naughton (Raymond, Iowa/Kirkwood CC).
• Liechti appeared in 80 matches during her two-year career at DMACC, recording 410 kills at a .251 hitting percentage and 299 total blocks. The All-Region middle blocker joins the Knights after a decorated junior college career.
• Naughton played in 44 matches as a middle hitter at Kirkwood, totaling 99 kills at a .280 hitting percentage, 51 digs and 82 blocks.
• The Knights also welcome nine freshmen to the collegiate ranks: Alexa Buhman (Sumner, Iowa/Sumner-Fredericksburg), Rachel Borwick (Nevada, Iowa/Nevada), Brenna Baumgardner (Slater, Iowa/Ballard-Huxley), Keely Kauten (Dike, Iowa/Dike-New Hartford), Lucy Maassen (North Liberty, Iowa/Liberty), Karsyn Michael (Robins, Iowa/Linn-Mar), McKenzie Becker (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Pius X), Kruiz Ewoldt (Traer, Iowa/North Tama), and Lillian Frazer (Lime Springs, Iowa/Riceville).

SERIES HISTORY
Illinois Wesleyan: Tuesday's matchup marks the ninth meeting between the Knights and Spartans, with Illinois Wesleyan holding a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series. The teams last met in 2024, when Wartburg's late push came up short in a five-set battle. The Knights have dropped the last two meetings.

Aurora: Wartburg leads the all-time series against Aurora, 4-3. The teams last met Oct. 27, 2018, when the Knights swept the Spartans in St. Louis, Missouri.

UW-Stevens Point: Wartburg and UW-Stevens Point will meet for the 13th time, with the Knights holding an 8-4 advantage in the series. UW-Stevens Point won the most recent matchup, a 3-1 neutral-site decision in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 2022.

Centre: Saturday morning's matchup will be the first meeting between Wartburg and Centre in program history.

Carthage: Wartburg earned its first-ever win over Carthage last season, defeating the Firebirds in five sets at Levick Arena. Despite the victory, Carthage leads the all-time series 12-1 dating back to 1990.

2025 SEASON RECAP

• Wartburg averaged 16.2 digs, 11.3 kills, 10.4 assists, 2.1 aces and 1.9 blocks per set across 27 matches during the 2025 season.
• Kaylee Koudelka (Alleman, Iowa/North Polk) and Sash combined for 493 kills, while Robinson led the Knights with 470 digs and 44 service aces.
• Off the court, Wartburg earned its 12th consecutive AVCA Team Academic Award after posting a 3.61 cumulative grade-point average.

KNIGHTS SELECTED THIRD IN A-R-C PRESEASON POLL
 The Knights received 32 points, trailing the University of Dubuque (49) and Central College (37). Wartburg finished tied for fifth in the conference standings in 2025, posting a 15-12 overall record and a 4-4 mark in A-R-C play.
 
"We are very excited about the group we have returning and the newcomers joining us, offering a great mix of experience and young talent!  The A-R-C will be as competitive as ever, and we look forward to a fun and challenging non-conference schedule as well!  Our team and staff are ready to put in the work and embrace the opportunities ahead!"

A-R-C Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. University of Dubuque - 49 (7)
2. Central College - 37
3. Wartburg College - 32
4. Nebraska Wesleyan University - 31
T-5. Coe College - 27
T-5. Simpson College - 27
7. Loras College - 12
8. Buena Vista University - 9