(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) – The Marquette University volleyball team is set to open the 2026 season this Monday, Aug. 24 against No. 2 Texas in the finale of the 2026 Jeep AVCA First Serve. First serve is set for 7 p.m. CT inside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, and will be broadcasted live on FS2.
HISTORY VS. TEXAS
Marquette will face Texas for the second time in program history and first since Dec. 8, 2022, when the teams met in Austin, Texas, in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16. The Longhorns won the match 3-1 and hold a 1-0 lead in the all-time series. Monday’s contest will be the first regular-season meeting between the programs.
SCOUTING THE LONGHORNS
Texas enters the 2026 season ranked No. 2 in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Preseason Top 25 Poll after posting a 26-4 record and advancing to the NCAA Regional Final in 2025. The Longhorns return several of their top contributors from last season, led by senior outside hitter Torrey Stafford, who recorded a team-high 516 kills (4.69 per set), sophomore outside hitter Abby Vander Wal (280 kills), senior setter Ella Swindle (955 assists) and sophomore outside hitter Cari Spears (358 kills).
MARQUETTE WELCOMES EIGHT FRESHMEN IN 2026
Marquette welcomes eight freshmen to its 2026 roster, adding newcomers from five countries and six states. The class includes defensive specialist/libero Emi Juric and opposite hitter Tani Juric from Slovenia, setter Luanna Markus from Brazil, middle blockers Molly Welge (Naperville, Illinois) and Berrak Sporeli (Istanbul, Turkey), outside hitters Caydence Doolan (Hagerstown, Maryland) and Allie Beers (Slinger, Wisconsin), and opposite hitter Aubrey Hicks (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin). The group adds depth across every position on the court as the Golden Eagles begin the 2026 campaign with one of the largest freshman classes in program history.
INTERNATIONAL TASTE
Marquette’s 2026 roster features players from four countries outside the United States. Senior middle blocker Julia Stanev hails from Italy, while freshman setter Luanna Markus is from Brazil. The Golden Eagles also welcome freshman twin sisters Emi and Tani Juric from Slovenia, along with freshman middle blocker Berrak Sporeli of Turkey. The five international student-athletes represent four countries and bring experience from across the globe to Marquette’s roster.
TWO TRANSFERS JOIN THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Marquette added a pair of transfers to its 2026 roster in graduate setter Lauren Young and junior outside hitter Carson Tyler. Tyler arrives from Ball State and brings collegiate experience on the pin to the Golden Eagles, adding depth to Marquette’s outside hitter group. Young joins the program from UNC Wilmington and provides an experienced option at setter. Together, the two additions bring multiple years of Division I experience to a roster that also features eight newcomers entering the season.
FIVE RETURNERS ADD EXPERIENCE TO SQUAD
While Marquette features a roster loaded with newcomers in 2026, the Golden Eagles return five players from last season’s NCAA Tournament squad. Sophomore middle blocker Keira Schmidt is the most experienced returner after appearing in all 29 matches and 105 sets as a freshman, while fellow sophomores Avery Helms and Emma Parks each saw significant court time in 2025. Senior middle blocker Julia Stanev also returns after appearing in 10 matches last season, and sophomore defensive specialist Annika Kowalski is back after preserving her eligibility during the 2025 campaign. Schmidt, Helms and Parks combined for 283 sets played last fall, providing a foundation of experience for a roster that welcomes 10 newcomers in 2026.
TYLER BRINGS PROVEN PRODUCTION
MU added one of the nation’s most accomplished transfers in junior outside hitter Carson Tyler, who arrives after earning 2025 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year honors at Ball State. Tyler recorded 506 kills, 321 digs and 43 service aces last season while earning First Team All-MAC, AVCA Midwest Region First Team and AVCA Honorable Mention All-America recognition. As a freshman in 2024, she posted 374 kills and was named the AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year and MAC Freshman of the Year. Over two collegiate seasons, Tyler amassed 880 kills and gives the Golden Eagles a proven six-rotation player with extensive offensive production at the Division I level. Tyler was also selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team.
MARQUETTE QUICK-HITTERS
- Marquette returns just five players from its 2025 NCAA Tournament team, including sophomores Keira Schmidt, Avery Helms, Emma Parks and Annika Kowalski, along with senior Julia Stanev.
- The Golden Eagles welcome 10 newcomers in 2026, comprised of eight freshmen and two transfers.
- The Golden Eagles have seven players listed at 6-foot-2 or taller, including 6-foot-5 freshman opposite hitter Tani Juric.
- Sophomore middle blocker Keira Schmidt is Marquette’s most experienced returning player after appearing in 29 matches and 105 sets as a freshman in 2025.
- Sophomore Emma Parks returns after averaging 1.77 kills per set and helping Marquette advance to the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
- The Golden Eagles are opening a season against a top-two ranked opponent for the first time in program history.
- Four players on the roster hail from Wisconsin: Allie Beers (Slinger), Aubrey Hicks (Menomonee Falls), Annika Kowalski (Appleton).
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