(WILMINGTON, Ohio) - Volleyball seeks improvement in its fourth season under head coach Aly Wiseman. Wilmington's first match is on Tuesday, Sept. 1, against Miami University (Hamilton) at Fred Raizk Arena in Hermann Court. Wilmington finished 4-23 (0-8 OAC) last season. 

The Quakers continue their pursuit of a milestone that has narrowly eluded the program in recent years. 

"It would mean everything to eclipse the double-digit win mark," said Wiseman in a preseason interview. "Our seniors Emelia Mohler and Logan McQuillin have heard me say it from day one when they walked into this program. One of my biggest goals upon taking over this program is getting to the 10-win mark."

The Quakers last reached double-digit victories in 2011 but have approached the mark several times since, recording nine-win campaigns in 2018, 2022 and 2023. Wilmington has totaled 32 victories over its last five seasons after recording just 19 wins from 2015-19. 

Key Players Lost

Opposite hitter Sarah Brown finished second on the team with 193 kills while leading Wilmington with 2.41 kills per set.

Setter Kyra Frasier served as Wilmington's primary setter in 2025, leading the Quakers with 346 assists. She also paced the team with 23 service aces. 

Defensive specialist Jarika Hart finished second on the team in digs and was a reliable defensive sub for many of the hitters that played in only front-row rotations. Additionally, she was a reliable serve receiver, posting a team-high .943 reception percentage (minimum 100 reception attempts).

Key Returners

Wilmington returns two seniors who are approaching major career milestones.

Senior libero Logan McQuillin anchored Wilmington's defense in 2025, earning honorable mention All-OAC honors, three OAC Defensive Player of the Week awards and CSC Academic All-District recognition. She played in all 91 sets and 27 matches for the Quakers, posting a team-high 456 digs — an improvement of 194 from the previous season — along with 40 assists and 14 service aces. McQuillin finished sixth in the OAC with 5.0 digs per set and ninth in total digs. 

"I would run through a wall if I could have the opportunity to get a volleyball," said McQuillin with a smile. "I really just want to be there for my teammates that way. Getting a ball up gives us another opportunity to put the ball away for a point."

The senior from Defiance, Ohio, has appeared in every Wilmington volleyball match since she stepped foot onto campus three seasons ago. Coming off of 23 matches of 10 or more digs, McQuillin enters the 2026 season 107 digs away from eclipsing 1000 career digs.

The Quakers also return senior outside hitter Emelia Mohler, who paced Wilmington with 223.5 points. Mohler provides six-rotation capabilities for her team, amassing a team-high 197 kills while adding 102 digs defensively. Prior to the start of the 2026 campaign, Mohler sits 120 kills away from 500 in her career.

"I'm going to work even harder this year to hopefully get to 500 and surpass that," said Mohler with a determined expression. "I'm so grateful for this opportunity the last four years here, and I can't wait to be a role model for the current freshmen."

Emma Specht and Addison Sparks each enter their third and final season with the Quakers, and each provide a veteran presence on the floor. Specht shined as a setter and on the service line last year, finishing second on the team with 274 assists and 22 service aces. Sparks went from playing in one game as a freshman to playing in 14 games as a sophomore, amassing 44 kills, 33 digs, and 10 blocks.

The Freshman Class

Wilmington added eight freshmen to the team in its most recent recruiting class.

6 | Sophia Moore | DS | Springboro, Ohio

7 | Baylie Snyder | MH/RS | Waynesville, Ohio

8 | Lilly Fite | MH/RS | New Richmond, Ohio

11 | Madi Zedeker | S | Bellefontaine, Ohio

12 | Addie Smith | OH | Circleville, Ohio

16 | Emma Bowman | OH/DS | Springboro, Ohio

23 | Mackenzie Simpson | RS | Pickerington, Ohio

28 | Anna Niemesh | S | Morrow, Ohio 

"I love the small community and the tight-knit feel," shared Simpson in a preseason interview.  "There is a good family feel on the team at Wilmington."

Schedule Preview

The Quakers begin the season with four home matches, facing Miami University (Hamilton) before hosting Pitt-Greensburg, Sweet Briar College and Franklin College at the Quaker Classic at Fred Raizk Arena in Hermann Court.

Wilmington continues its nonconference slate at the Keystone Classic in Pennsylvania before traveling to Bluffton. The Quakers close their first stretch of nonconference play with back-to-back home matches against Geneva and Hanover before road trips to Franciscan and Berea College (Kentucky).

Conference play begins with consecutive road matches on Oct. 1 and Oct. 7 at Heidelberg University and Ohio Northern, respectively. The Quakers then return to Wilmington to host Marietta on Oct. 10, Capital on Oct. 14, and Baldwin Wallace on Oct. 17. Wilmington will then travel north to face Otterbein on Oct. 21 and Mount Union on Oct. 24 before rounding out conference play with a home match against Muskingum on Oct. 30.

The Quakers wrap up the regular season with a nonconference road match against Wooster on Nov. 4 and a home contest against Ohio Christian in the season finale on Nov. 6.

All home matches will be available to stream on FloCollege.

"I want them to see the improvement and the growth," said Mohler when asked about what she wants people to take away from watching her team. "I also want them to see how close-knit that we have gotten in the offseason and how that will help us perform on the court."