After a losing 2024 season with a 10-13 record, Saint Mary’s volleyball was determined to improve in 2025, especially with a strong incoming freshman class and veteran players who were seasoned experts in Michigan Intercolligiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play.
The Belles started the year with 12 straight wins, chipping away at difficult teams such as Grinnell College or Olivet; however, following a record-breaking start, they had a rough in-conference season and finished the year 16-11. Saint Mary’s did make it to the MIAA tournament, but the Belles lost in the first round to No. 4 Trine in a 5-set match.
This season, the Belles heavily relied on four players: junior middle Caroline Carens, senior libero Karli Fegan, sophomore setter Giuliana Graczyk and freshman outside Shannon Rudge.
Carens, who led the team with 315 kills, 100 blocks and 389 points, saw court time in every single set. If there was one hitter that Saint Mary’s knew would be able to find the floor, it was Carens with her impressive 17-match double-digit kills stat and a record of 20 kills in one match. For her efforts on the net, Carens was named MIAA Player of the Week twice and was named to the All-MIAA First Team.
Although the net was dominated by Carens, the back row was anchored by Fegan, who had 392 digs and tied her season high of 26 digs on three separate occasions, proving she plays textbook defense that puts her in the right position to set up the offense. Fegan was also second on the team for service aces with 29, which follows Graczyk, who had 48 and leads the team with 543 assists, anchoring the offense as the main setter. Although Rudge was second to Carens with 220 kills, second in digs with 280 and tied for second in service aces with 29, she was an instrumental piece for this team, playing every single set of the season and learning under veteran players. Although their stats may seem personalized, Carens’ kills couldn’t have been made without Graczyk’s sets, which would not have been possible without digs from Fegan or Rudge, demonstrating how these four together produced one of the most well-oiled offenses Saint Mary’s has seen.
Graczyk and sophomore outside Kalli Lewkowski were both named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District for NCAA Division III, while Carens was named to the All-MIAA First Team.
Head Coach Denise Van De Walle just wrapped her 11th season with the Belles and continues her same coaching style of personal growth alongside athletic execution, and she can often be spotted not only having fun with the girls outside of practice, but also taking them to watch the Notre Dame teams as a way to study the game and its highest level while bonding as both a team and tri-campus community. Under her leadership, the program remains tight-knit, which is only displayed in its record improvement and increased play execution. Saint Mary’s volleyball will continue to be a team in the pursuit of greatness, a force to be reckoned with and a program whose best is yet to come.
