Carthage Women's Volleyball Ranked Third in CCIW Preseason Poll

NAPERVILLE — The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) released its 2025 Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday, with the Carthage College Firebirds selected third with 51 points.

Illinois Wesleyan topped the poll with 64 points and eight first-place votes, followed by Millikin with 54 points and one first-place vote.

2025 CCIW Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Illinois Wesleyan – 64 points (8 first-place votes)
Millikin – 54 points (1)
Carthage – 51 points
North Central – 37 points
North Park – 34 points
Elmhurst – 30 points
Augustana – 23 points
Wheaton – 19 points
Carroll – 12 points

The Firebirds enter the 2025 campaign with several familiar faces returning to the court. Head Coach Leanne Ulmer returns for her 25th year at the helm of the women's volleyball program. Joining Coach Ulmer for the second consecutive season is Graduate Assistant Coach Sydney Krueger. The Senior class features AVCA All-Region 8 and All-CCIW First Team honoree Jenna Damon, as well as Katie Boston, Madilyn Danielson, Cassidy Stahl, and Tatum Kebisek. All-CCIW First Team honoree Kristina Manojlovic returns for her junior season after leading the Firebirds in kills in 2024 with 327. Coach Ulmer also adds 12 newcomers to the roster, bringing in Kate Badrov, Taylor Baratta, Hannah Bendoff, Emma Crow, Sydney Horacek, Alyssa McQueen, Kennedy Murton, Eiley Schoeneman, Sophia Verplanke, Della Walsh, Grace Wenthold, and Hailey Wierzgac.

The Firebirds open the 2025 campaign in St. Louis, Mo., with four matches over two days at WashU. Carthage faces Willamette at 3 p.m. and Bluffton at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, before squaring off against Loras at noon and WashU at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Following a road doubleheader at Lake Forest on Sept. 6, Carthage returns home to Tarble Arena for its first matches in Kenosha on Sept. 12-13. The Firebirds welcome Wis-Platteville, Colorado College, and Concordia (Wis.) for a two-day invitational.

CCIW play begins at home on Friday, Sept. 19, when the Firebirds host Augustana at 7 p.m. Carthage then visits North Central on Sept. 24 before traveling to Iowa for three matches Sept. 26-27 against Augsburg, Wartburg, and Cornell.

October features a mix of conference and nonconference challenges, highlighted by a home matchup with preseason favorite Illinois Wesleyan on Oct. 8. The Firebirds will also travel to Michigan to face Mount Union, Calvin, and Kalamazoo from Oct. 10-11, before returning home to host Wheaton on Oct. 22.

Carthage closes the regular season with three CCIW matches in November, including its home finale against North Park on Nov. 1. The Firebirds then travel to Millikin on Nov. 5 and Carroll on Nov. 8.

The full 2025 Carthage schedule is available at gocarthage.com.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Katie Boston: MB; 6' 2"; Senior

#10 Jenna Damon: L/DS; 5' 3"; Senior

#6 Madilyn Danielson: OH/DS; 5' 6"; Senior

#18 Tatum Kebisek: S; 5' 9"; Senior

#14 Kristina Manojlovic: OH/RS; 5' 10"; Junior

#11 Cassidy Stahl: DS; 5' 4"; Senior

#1 Kate Badrov: S/OH/RS; 5' 11"; Freshman

#2 Eiley Schoeneman: RS; 5' 11"; Freshman

#4 Hannah Bendoff: OH; 5' 9"; Freshman

#13 Emma Crow: MB; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#9 Katie Boston
: 6' 2"; Senior
: MB

#10 Jenna Damon
: 5' 3"; Senior
: L/DS

#6 Madilyn Danielson
: 5' 6"; Senior
: OH/DS

#18 Tatum Kebisek
: 5' 9"; Senior
: S

#14 Kristina Manojlovic
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH/RS

#11 Cassidy Stahl
: 5' 4"; Senior
: DS

#1 Kate Badrov
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: S/OH/RS

#2 Eiley Schoeneman
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: RS

#4 Hannah Bendoff
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: OH

#13 Emma Crow
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: MB