William Penn 2026 Women’s Volleyball Season Preview
2025 record: 17-16 (7-11 Heart)
Starters returning/lost (including libero): 3/4
Letterwinners returning/lost: 10/8
Notable returners:
Maju Vieira, Sr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
(All-Heart, 278 kills, 36 aces, 286 digs)
Hailee Pesek, Sr., New Hampton, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 191 kills, 39 blocks)
Emilie Bojorquez-McFadden, Sr., Surprise, Ariz.
(Letterwinner, 178 kills, 38 blocks)
Abigail Mitchell, Sr., Oxford, Ala.
(Letterwinner, 174 kills, 140 digs)
Notable losses:
Kaya Caprini
(All-Heart)
Khiani Jackson
(All-Heart)
Mia Brady
(All-Heart)
Joceline Martinez
(Letterwinner)
Notable newcomers:
Emma Skoglund, Fr., Branson, Mo.
Leah Meyer, Fr., Houston, Texas
Mya Clapp, Jr., Columbia, Mo.
Agnieska Gastala, So., Bielsko-Biala, Poland
The Statesmen women’s volleyball team is seeking to utilize a mix of returning and new talent to move up the league standings as it readies for the 2026 campaign.
Head Coach Lauren Eldrige led WPU to a 17-16 (7-11 Heart) record last fall, falling just shy of advancing to the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship.
Maju Vieira (Sr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Business Management) is expected to guide the navy and gold after earning second-team all-Heart recognition in 2025.
Outside Hitter
Vieira was William Penn’s top attacker a season ago, posting 278 kills on a .150 hitting clip. She also managed 286 digs, 36 aces, and 28 blocks in her debut season in Oskaloosa.
Fellow seniors Emilie Bojorquez-McFadden (Surprise, Ariz., Biology) and Abigail Mitchell (Oxford, Ala., Nursing) will flank Vieira on the outside pin. Bojorquez-McFadden finished 2025 with 178 kills, while Mitchell was right behind her with 174 winners.
Newcomers Mya Clapp (Jr., Columbia, Mo., Elementary Education) and Agnieszka Gastala (So., Bielsko-Biala, Poland) will be in the mix as well, doing so on both the left and right ends of the net this fall.
Jenna Ghigo (So., Castle Rock, Colo., New Media) will add depth in her second year in the program.
Middle Hitter
Freshman Emma Skoglund (Branson, Mo.) is projected to be the starter in the middle, while returners Kalley Brase (So., Centertown, Mo., New Media) and Mariah Reed (Jr., Fulton, Mo., Business Management) should give her a battle.
Brase accumulated 65 kills and 29 blocks last fall, while Reed appeared in three matches for WPU.
Right Side
Hailee Pesek (Sr., New Hampton, Iowa, Nursing) and her 191 kills and 39 blocks from last year have earned the nod on the opposite pin.
Alix Robinson (So., Pontiac, Ill., Political Science and History) was also good for 130 terminations as a freshman and will provide a strong backup to Pesek.
Setter
Courtney McWilliams (So., Rockton, Ill., Nursing) has the inside edge as the floor leader after notching 223 assists and 70 digs.
Incoming freshmen Leah Meyer (Houston, Texas) and Eylul Ekinci (Fr., Cigli, Turkey, Business Management) may also see the court in their first collegiate seasons.
Libero/Defensive Specialist
Maddy Gustafson (Jr., Marion, Iowa, Psychology and Human Services) has been given the reins for the back row, a year removed from tallying 147 digs in addition to 27 digs.
Brooklyn Grisolono (So., Kewaskum, Wis., Nursing) will likely find her way onto the court as well, while depth will come in the form of Isabelle Lagunas (Sr., Columbus Junction, Iowa, Nursing).
Schedule/Conference
The 2026 campaign gets underway this week in San Antonio, Texas with five matches at the Our Lady of the Lake Invitational. The Statesmen will compete in three tournaments this year, including hosting the William Penn Labor Day Invitational on September 4-5. The Heart season begins on September 11 with WPU hosting Peru State.
