The DII women’s volleyball season is set to serve things up for 2025. With the season here, let’s take a look at some of the best players returning for yet another run at the chance to hoist the national championship trophy.
15 DII women’s volleyball players to watch
Emma Becker, West Texas A&M
The 5-foot-10 senior has had quite the three years in Canyon. She was a national champion in her 2022 debut, was an honorable mention All-American in the Buffs' 2023 national runner-up campaign and cleaned up last year as a First Team All-American, First Team All-Region right-side and outside hitter. She led the Buffs in kills and points and should be among the LSC leaders in 2025.
Mia Berg and Peyton Neff, Nebraska-Kearny
Peyton Neff
Neff, a 5-foot-10 setter, is a two-time All-American, earning an honorable mention nod in 2023 and First Team honors in 2024. Last year, she was the MIAA setter of the year, finishing second in DII with 12.34 assists per game. Berg, a Second Team All-American, was the MIAA hitter of the year, leading the Lopers with 398 points while adding 3.12 kills per set.
Demi Carter and Madi Parrish, Angelo State
The Rambelles rumbled to the national semifinals last year for the first time in program history. This pair of hitters was a large part of that run. Carter, a 6-foot-2 right-side hitter, was the national freshman of the year and earned an honorable mention All-American nod behind a .310 attack percentage and 243 kills. Parrish, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, was the LSC tournament MVP en route to an All-Region, All-American season. She was among the division’s best with 4.02 kills per set, and with the Belles returning four of their top five point getters (the fifth, Evelyn Torres, is now a coach), they are set up for another big year.
Anna Coulter, East Stroudsburg
Coulter had a monster season for the Warriors, winning the PSAC East athlete of the year and earning a spot on the All-America and All-Atlantic Region teams. She was ninth in DII in points per set at 5.08 — leading the Warriors with 360 kills and 1.46 blocks per set, third-most in DII — and her .438 hitting percentage was second-best in the division. It is kind of astounding that she was only an honorable mention AVCA All-American.
Kayla Giroux, Wayne State (MI)
The Warriors improved from a 10-19 team in 2023 to a winning record of 14-13 in 2024, and Giroux was a large reason why. She earned Second Team All-American honors, finishing ninth in DII in hitting percentage at .404. Surprisingly, she played in the fewest sets of her career yet still was able to crush all her career highs.
Annika Helf, MSU Denver
The Roadrunners are always a threat in the RMAC and South Central Region, and Helf was a welcome addition in 2024. Fresh off an All-American campaign at the JUCO level, Helf earned Third Team All-American honors with a spot on the First Team All-RMAC and South Central Region teams. She was second on MSU Denver with 3.92 points per set, 3.26 kills per set and 41 aces.
Cordelia Kearns, Florida Tech
The 6-foot outside hitter became the first First Team All-American in Panthers history. Her dominating performance — finishing eighth in DII in total kills with 501 and 10th in points per set at 4.87 — led Florida Tech to its first-ever tournament appearance.
Sydney Morland and Maya Van Heyst, Wingate
The Bulldogs have been the No. 1 seed in the Southeast Region for three straight tournaments. That doesn’t simply happen by mistake or luck — it comes from having some of the best players the division has to offer. Morland finished as the SAC player of the year, the SAC tournament MVP, the Southeast Region player of the year and a Second Team All-American. The middle blocker also had the fifth-best hitting percentage in DII (.423). Van Heyst, who served as setter for the Bulldogs, was a Third Team All-American. She is a balanced player, ranking in the top 10 in in DII in triple doubles while piling up 801 assists and 225 kills.
Katie Miller, Lander
Miller, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter, had a historical season in Bearcat lore. She became the program’s first-ever PBC player of the year while finding a spot on the All-American and Southeast Region teams (the second straight year in which she did). She finished sixth in DII with 5.28 points per set and in the top 25 with total kills. She is one of the most-decorated players in the PBC and will finish her career as the owner of many Lander records.
Abigail Nua, Point Loma
The accolades speak for themselves when it comes to the Sea Lions' ace of an outside hitter. She’s a three-time All-American, finally cracking the First Team last year — the first Sea Lion to do so. She was also the PacWest player of the year and finished in the top 15 in DII in kills per set (4.16) and points per set (4,78). Nua is as big a national player-of-the-year candidate as there is.
Nathaly Perez, Tampa
No DII women’s volleyball list is complete without a mention of Tampa. The four-time national champions have one of the best in DII in Perez. The 6-foot outside hitter is a two-time All-American who posted career highs in kills per set (3.23), points per set (3.6) and a .332 attack percentage.
Sarah Ybarra, Cal Poly Pomona
Ybarra was another All-American who posted a career year. The 6-foot, All-West Region selection was among the division’s leaders with 421 kills while adding 349 digs and 47 aces. The junior was one of the big breakouts in the CCAA and is looking to build on a successful 2024.
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