KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman State University volleyball team returns an experienced core after posting a winning Great Lakes Valley Conference record last season.

Nine of the 14 players on Truman's roster are juniors or seniors. The returning group includes the team's leader in kills, starting setter, starting libero and four hitters who recorded at least 100 kills in 2025.

The Bulldogs finished 12-17 overall and 7-6 in GLVC play last season. They were selected seventh in the 2026 GLVC preseason coaches' poll.

Truman begins the season Thursday, Aug. 27, against host Fort Hays State University at the Fort Hays State Tournament in Hays, Kansas.

Erickson Leads Returning Attack

Junior middle blocker Autumn Erickson returns after leading Truman with 214 kills and 279 points last season.

Erickson recorded 2.25 kills per set while committing only 50 errors across 516 attacks. Her .318 hitting percentage was the second-highest on the team and the best among Truman's returning players.

She also contributed 71 total blocks and 25 service aces.

Junior outside hitter Laci Neece finished second among returning players with 169 kills despite appearing in 74 of the team's 99 sets. Neece averaged 2.28 kills per set, matching the highest rate on the team, and added 82 digs.

Junior middle blocker Hannah Hosty recorded 153 kills, 48 blocks and 112 digs across 86 sets. Junior right-side hitter Lily Porter added 101 kills and 33 blocks.

Those four give Truman returning production across the front row, but the Bulldogs will need to replace Michaela Goad and Makayla Way, who combined for 354 kills and 140 total blocks last season.

Senior Jessie Julius returns after recording 70 kills, 158 digs and 20 service aces. Sophomores Ella Diercks, Kendra Shimon and Adalyn Galbraith provide additional attacking depth after seeing limited action during their first collegiate seasons.

Senior right-side hitter Elise Gibson also returns to the roster.

Creason and Janssen Direct the Offense and Defense

Senior setter Tori Creason returns after leading Truman with 737 assists and averaging 7.44 assists per set in 2025.

Creason also ranked second on the team with 249 digs and added 47 kills, 27 service aces and a .264 hitting percentage.

Junior libero Addy Janssen led Truman with 485 digs and averaged 4.90 digs per set. She also contributed 123 assists and 21 service aces while appearing in all 99 sets.

Janssen and Creason give the Bulldogs experienced leadership in the two positions responsible for organizing the offense and back-row defense.

Truman averaged 12.41 kills and 11.69 assists per set last season while hitting .201. Opponents averaged 13.87 kills per set with a .223 hitting percentage.

Blocking was a strength for the Bulldogs. Truman finished with 205 total blocks and averaged 2.07 per set, compared with 184.5 blocks and 1.86 per set for its opponents.

Improving offensive efficiency and serve reception will be important. Truman allowed 186 service aces while recording 156.

Three Newcomers Join Bulldogs

Freshmen Avery Poppe and Alanna Orton join the roster along with junior transfer setter Skylar Holler.

Poppe finished her career at Lexington High School in Illinois with 1,186 kills, 1,449 digs and 159 service aces.

She was a four-time team MVP and four-time First Team All-Heart of Illinois Conference selection. Poppe also earned multiple All-State honorable mention awards and helped Lexington reach the Illinois State Series Sweet 16 three times.

Orton joins the Bulldogs as a middle blocker from Liberty High School in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. She earned First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District honors in 2025 after helping Liberty win consecutive Gateway Athletic Conference championships.

Holler arrives from Henderson State University. The junior setter previously earned First Team All-District recognition at Life High School Waxahachie in Texas and gives Truman another option alongside Creason at setter.

Bulldogs Face 10 Matches Before First Road Conference Weekend

Truman opens the season with four matches at the Fort Hays State Tournament. After facing the host Tigers, the Bulldogs play Midwestern State and Eastern New Mexico on Aug. 28 before closing the tournament against Regis on Aug. 29.

The Bulldogs play another four-match tournament at Pittsburg State from Sept. 2-4. Truman will face Pittsburg State, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Arkansas Tech and Missouri Southern.

The home schedule begins Sept. 11 with the Truman State Tournament inside Pershing Arena. The Bulldogs face Newman at 10 a.m. before opening GLVC play against Maryville at 6 p.m.

Truman will compete at home eight times during the regular season. The home conference schedule also includes Indianapolis, Lewis, William Jewell, Rockhurst, Illinois Springfield and Quincy.

The Bulldogs travel to Hammond, Indiana, for the Midwest Region Crossover on Oct. 16-17. Truman's final home match is Oct. 31 against Quincy before the regular season concludes Nov. 7 at Upper Iowa.

Truman Selected Seventh in GLVC Preseason Poll

Truman received 92 points in the conference preseason poll, placing the Bulldogs seventh and four points ahead of Drury.

Missouri-St. Louis received 11 first-place votes and 166 points after winning its first GLVC championship in 2025. Rockhurst received two first-place votes and was selected second, while Indianapolis received the remaining first-place vote and was picked third.

2026 GLVC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll

2026 Truman Volleyball Schedule

*GLVC match

#BulldogNation