The beginning of the volleyball season is less than a week away, and the River States Conference is excited to preview the 2025 seasons for our member schools! Each RSC school talked with players and coaches from their teams, with those interviews linked below as part of Media Day!
Additionally, each school has spotlighted two players expected to be major contributors during the 2025 campaign, and are also listed below as our 2025 Players to Watch!
BRESCIA
Media Day
Players to Watch
Cheaney Archer
Senior | Shoals, Indiana | Setter
A rising senior and leader on the court, she led Brescia last season and earned over 1,000 assists in one season, earning third team all-conference recognition.
Callie Mason
Sophomore | Galesburg, Illinois | Outside Hitter
A rising sophomore, Mason led the Bearcats in kills as a freshman with 420, earning second team all conference honors.
IU COLUMBUS
Media Day
Players to Watch
Cora Baker
Junior | Berne, Indiana | Outside Hitter
Cora has been the face of the IUC Volleyball program since its inception. Now more mature and more skilled than ever, the two-time All-RSC Second Team selection is ready to lead the Crimson Pride into their best season yet.
Ruthie Bingham
Senior | North Vernon, Indiana | Outside Hitter
Ruthie is a transfer from Mount St. Joseph University and is poised to make an immediate impact. A technically skilled and experienced player, she’s ready to help lead the Crimson Pride to a standout season.
IU EAST
Players to Watch
Aislyn Hogan
Sophomore | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Setter
Aislyn was named to the RSC Second-Team after her freshman season. In her first year, she averaged 6.54 assists per set.
Ella Bickel
Junior | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Defensive Specialist
Ella was named to the RSC Second-Team in 2024. Ella led the team in digs with 576
IU KOKOMO
Media Day
Players to Watch
Lexi Broyles
Senior | DeMotte, Indiana | Middle Hitter
Recognized as one of the nation’s top middle hitters, Broyles is a three-time NAIA Third-Team All-American and multiple-time First-Team All-RSC honoree. She will once again anchor the Cougars’ attack and be a key factor in their success this fall.
Mya Grigsby
Sophomore | Greenfield, Indiana | Outside Hitter
The reigning NAIA Freshman of the Year and RSC Player of the Year, Grigsby returns after a record-setting season in which she led the Cougars in multiple statistical categories. She is expected to be one of the top offensive threats in the nation again this fall.
IU SOUTHEAST
Media Day
Players to Watch
Ella Brooks
Senior | Carmel, Indiana | Outside Hitter
Brooks is a 3-time RSC All-Conference performer who has been a consistent presence on the outside for the Grenadiers.
Ella Davidson
Sophomore | Floyds Knobs, Indiana | Defensive Specialist/Libero
Davidson took over the Libero role and earned RSC All-Conference Honors as a true freshman last season.
KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN
Media Day
Players to Watch
Ally Coriell
Junior | Lucasville, Ohio | Middle Blocker
Coriell was Kentucky Christian's leader at the net in 2024, finishing her sophomore campaign with 54 total blocks. The middle blocker was one of three Knights with more than 150 kills last season, finishing the campaign with 152.
Lydia Ward
Sophomore | Gig Harbor, Washington | Setter
Ward did a little of everything for the Knights last season, finishing second on the roster in both kills (153) and assists (266). She also ranked third on the Kentucky Christian roster with 178 digs, and added 22 total blocks.
MIDWAY
Media Day
Players to Watch
Nyla Gaines
Junior | Lexington, Kentucky | Outside Hitter/Right Side
Entering her junior year, Gaines figures to be a major contributor to a Midway team that lost its top-three hitters to graduation. Her 152 kills and 1.45 kills per-set in 2024 are the most recorded by a returning Eagle.
Blair Riney
Sophomore | Owensboro, Kentucky | Defensive Specialist/Libero
Riney is coming off a freshman season in which she led the Eagles with 372 digs and a .935 receiving percentage. Her efforts landed her on the All-RSC Third Team.
OAKLAND CITY
Players to Watch
Eva Hamann
Sophomore | Springfield, Illinois | Outside Hitter
Eva is a sophomore right side hitter. She has a powerful swing from both the front and back row. Eva also puts up a huge block.
Elleanor Stark
Junior | St. Louis, Missouri | Outside Hitter
Playing in each of Oakland City's 30 matches last season, Stark was the Mighty Oaks' leader at the net. The sophomore logged 197 kills, and played a major role on defense with 134 digs and 12 total blocks.
RIO GRANDE
Media Day
Players to Watch
Elle McLoughlin
Senior | Zanesville, Ohio | Setter/Right Side
McLoughlin was the 2025 River States Conference Setter of the Year, and a first team all-conference selection. She finished second nationally with 1,389 assists, while she also led Rio with 53 service aces, was second in total blocks with 77 (16 solo, 61 assists) and ranked third on the team with 326 digs. Nationally, she was an Honorable Mention American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) NAIA All-America Team selection.
Kelli Stewart
Junior | Waverly, Ohio | Outside Hitter/Right Side
Stewart was a Second Team All-River States Conference selection in 2024, and ranked second on the Rio Grande roster in kills with 367.
ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS
Media Day
Players to Watch
Karla Melendez
Junior | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Outside Hitter
Melendez returns to the Pomeroys lineup after being named a Second Team All-Conference selection last season.
Aden Britt
Senior | Pflugerville, Texas | Setter
Britt averaged 4.20 assists per set in 2024, sharing time in the setting rotation for the Pomeroys.
SHAWNEE STATE
Media Day
Players to Watch
Makaela Lovely
Senior | Frankfort, Ohio | Setter
A backup setter at the beginning of the 2024 season, Lovely came on strong over the last half of the campaign to prove herself as one of the most improved players in the entire conference, finishing the year with 675 assists in 29 matches and 39 kills to just 10 errors for a .279 attack percentage as well. Despite starting only 15 matches in 2024, Lovely was named Third-Team All-RSC due to her performance, which saw Lovely eclipse 30 assists in six out of Shawnee State's last nine matches. Lovely has 938 career assists — just 62 away from 1,000 for her career — despite just assuming the starting role last fall.
Megan Steele
Senior | Chillicothe, Ohio | Libero
A durable and multi-positional talent who has played in each of Shawnee State's 57 matches over the last two seasons and played in 82 out of SSU's 85 matches over the last three years, Steele has 856 digs, 289 kills, 79 assists and 40 service aces to her credit prior to the 2025-26 season beginning. Steele, who sits 144 digs away from 1,000 for her career, will be the team's primary libero in 2025 as the Bears have developed and recruited additional depth up front.
WVU TECH
Media Day
Players to Watch
Peydon Smith
Senior | Beaver, West Virginia | Outside Hitter
Peydon Smith, a senior outside from Beaver, W.Va., played in all but one match last season, picking up 260 digs to go with 24 aces.
Nevaeh Wooding
Senior | White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia | Middle Blocker
Nevaeh Wooding, a senior middle blocker from White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., led the team with 89 blocks last season, making her ninth overall in the RSC.