The Colorado College volleyball team enters the 2026 season with high expectations after racing to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament title in 2025.
 
Four all-SCAC selections return as the Tigers welcome interim head coach Nikki Binetti for her first season, which begins with the Pikes Peak Challenge this weekend at Reid Arena.
 
Binetti, who was the head coach at Salisbury from 2022-24, was CC's top assistant for the 2025 season.
 
"We are incredibly excited to get back on the court this weekend and begin competing at a high level against some competitive teams," Binetti said. "Our schedule is intentionally challenging, and we see every opportunity to compete against top-tier talent as a chance to test ourselves, grow, and establish who we want to be as a team."
 
The Tigers will host No. 9 Calvin this weekend, along with Augustana College and St. Norbert. CC opens the weekend against Augustana on Friday, Sept. 4, at 1:45 p.m., followed by Calvin at 6:45 p.m.
 
"Coming off the success of last season, our goal is not simply to repeat what we have accomplished, we want to take the next step," Binetti added. "We are committed to building a national presence for Colorado College Volleyball and establishing ourselves as a program that consistently competes at a high level."
 
Five seniors lead the Tigers into the '25 season. That group includes an honorable mention All-American, three all-SCAC selections and two all-region picks.
 
"With a strong core of veteran experience returning to the floor, we expect to play with confidence, toughness, and urgency from the first serve," Binetti said. "We want to start fast, build momentum, and continue raising our standard throughout the season. Every match will be an opportunity to challenge ourselves and find another level of competitive excellence."
 
Senior middle blocker Brooke Brilliant leads the way in 2026. Brilliant, an honorable-mention All-American and first-team all-SCAC and all-region selection last season, paced the SCAC with a .350 hitting percentage and finished second on the team with 326 kills. She also led the team with 66 total blocks.
 
Senior outside hitter Camille Sherrill returns after leading the team and SCAC with 468 kills and finishing second on the squad with 334 digs and third with 32 service aces. She collected 28 kills and a career-high 22 digs in the SCAC Championship victory over Schreiner, earning her the AVCA Division III National Player of the Week after helping the Tigers to the SCAC title.
 
Fellow senior Meghan Gannon, the team's libero, is back after earning second-team all-SCAC honors last season. She led team and finished fifth in the SCAC with 485 digs, including a season-high 28 vs. Schreiner. Gannon was fourth on the team with 29 service aces, including a season-high four vs. Hendrix.
 
Seniors Julia Reusch and Annie Joo are back for their final season at CC. Reusch posted 179 kills, including a career-high 14 at McMurry, led the team with 13 solo blocks. Joo, meanwhile, finished second on team with 457 assists, including a career-high 59 vs. Schreiner, which tied for 14^th in the school's single-match list.
 
Sophomores Grace Berry, who collected 67 kills, including a career-high 11 at St. Thomas, and Delaney Dorscht, who had 77 kills and 58 digs, return after gaining valuable experience last season.
 
The incoming class consists of Majken Burtt (Reno, NV), Elizabeth Barry (San Francisco, CA),  Mackenzie Woolfolk (Colorado Springs, CO), Eden Lynn (Los Angeles, CA), Lucy McCord (Pittsburgh, PA), Annabelle Yujuico (Atherton, CA), Bella Bond (Rye, CO) and Amanda Cullen (Lakeville, MN).
  
"The big concentration for us this year is our seniors, but Grace has grown and worked really hard to solidify the RS position, so we are hoping for big things from her too," Binetti said. "Delaney will look to fill the hole of Caroline (Dormady) and has stepped up in preseason with the highest hitting percentage in her position. Amanda Cullen (first year) will start and play a ton for us. She is going to do big things for us defensively and elevate our backcourt."