CHICAGO, Ill. -- North Park Women's Volleyball is looking to return to its championship ways including a 2023 season where they ran through the conference season unblemished, boasted a 25-7 overall record, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. That "competitive standard" has been set, according to seventh-year Head Coach Michael Sopocy.

Coach Sopocy is well-aware of the difficulties in replacing North Park's all-time Kills, Attacks, and Points leader in outside hitter Adriana Rodriguez. However, he's looking forward to challenging that narrative.

"I'm sure many teams are going to think our offense will get stale with Adri graduating," said Sopocy. "I think this offense will thrive, though, and I'd put this crew of outsides and pin hitters against some of the best in Division III. We're deep at every position and this is going to be a new look - both offense and defense."

Fifth-year opposite hitter Kharlie Simeona-French (Papakolea, Hawaii / Punahou) is the Vikings' top returning points per set leader from 2024, averaging 2.20 points per set from 153 kills, 35 aces, and 36 blocks. Simeona-French has played at an all-conference level, despite not being honored in such a way, ranking in the top three of just about every category for NPU last season. Simeona-French was second on the team with 228 digs, averaging 2.43 per set, and eclipsed 600 career points - currently at 620.5. She showcased eight matches with 2+ blocks, including tying a career high with six against Elmhurst. 

"Kharlie is a very underrecognized player in the conference that just does everything well," said Coach Sopocy. "We're working to get her some more touches this year."

Joining Simeona-French as top returning hitters from 2024 are senior outside hitters Shamyia Collier (Orlando, Fla. / Bishop Moore), SaeAuna Reynolds (Rapid City, SD / Stevens), and Annaliese Rottman (Okemos, Mich. / Lansing Christian), junior outside hitter Rian Hobbs (San Clemente, Calif. / Ontario Christian), and sophomore outside hitter Payton Smith (Aiea, Hawaii / Mid Pacific Institute).

Collier appeared in 54 sets across 22 matches last season and boasted the fourth-most kills on the team (104) while averaging 1.93 kills per set. She added a season high 13 kills at North Central where she also added a .407 hitting percentage. Rottman drove 56 kills in her 30 sets of work last year and added a pair of aces at No. 4-ranked Calvin. Hobbs and Smith had 44 and 28 kills, respectively, in their underclass seasons as Smith boasted the top hitting percentage of frequent players with a .253 mark. Reynolds saw opportunities early in 2024 with flashes of high-level play, including a four-kill match with three blocks against UChicago.

"By day three of preseason, this team was ready to compete - I've never had that before," said Coach Sopocy. "Payton has been an absolute monster and I can't wait to see how she performs this season. Sae and Anna are going to see tons of playing this year. All of these players complement each other extremely well on offense and it gives our setters lots of options."

Speaking of setters, junior Kendal Britton (Grand Rapids, Mich. / East Grand Rapids) is back after earning starting time as a rotational setter last year.

Britton totaled a team second-best 412 assists while averaging 6.15 per set. She was in on 11 blocks, added 76 digs, and had eight matches with 20+ assists, including a career high 41 against Ohio Wesleyan. Britton also added a hitting percentage of .169 with 22 kills, four aces, and averaged 1.13 digs per set. Junior Cassidy Mullens (Dana Point, Calif. / Fullerton), who Sopocy has been impressed with this preseason, was stuck behind a senior setter in MK Giesen last year, but could also also be in the mix.

On the defensive side of things, two all-conference players are back in senior libero Carolina Aviles (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico / Colegio Adianez) and junior Meg Rothermel (Cary, Ill. / Cary-Grove) .

Aviles is a three-year starter for the Vikings, grabbing second-team all-conference honors in 2022 and 2024. She's totaled 1,442 digs in her career (4.45 per set) alongside 140 aces an 346 assists. Last season she led NPU with 374 digs and boasted a team second-best 37 aces. Aviles managed double-digit dig totals in 17 matches, including a career high 32 against Ohio Wesleyan.

"Caro is an obvious important piece to this team and it's going to be fun to watch her chase that 2,000 career dig total this season. I've talked a lot about our offense, but I think our defense is going to be great this year, too. We have specialized coaches at every position that bring a level of competitiveness and standards that make championship teams."

Rothermel is a two-year starting middle blocker that was named the Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-CCIW selection in 2023. She was far-and-ahead North Park's top blocker in 2024, stuffing 68 of her opponents' attacks. Rothermel was third on the team with 138 kills and fourth with 35 aces. She tallied 17 matches with 2+ blocks and five with 4+, including a career high eight against Elmhurst. Rothermel also hit .300 or better in 11 different matches.

"Another goal is to get Meg more targets this season," said Sopocy. "I can't say enough good things about her. She had a great preseason and I believe she'll be one of the top middles in the CCIW this season."

Coach Sopocy turned his attention to a few other players that did not see much action in 2024 or are new to this year's team: freshman libero Tessa Wabiszewski (New Berlin, Wis. / New Berlin Eisenhower), sophomore defensive specialist Tiziana Balestra (Caracas, Venezuela / Mater Lakes Academy), and sophomore defensive specialist Maya Huelsman (Mount Prospect, Ill. / Wheeling).

"Tess, Tizzy, and Maya really stood out at practices and in the preseason exhibitions," said Sopocy." Expect big things from them!"

Sopocy continued to credit his coaches in the conclusion of the 2025 outlook:

"My job has been so easy this preseason thanks to this group. Having coaches at specialized positions is going to strengthen our production and it takes a big weight off my shoulders. It's going to be a new look this season and I'm looking forward to getting back to championship ways."

North Park opens its season with a four-match stretch on August 29-30, opening their season in Sandusky, Ohio against the College of Wooster. First serve at the Great Lakes Crossover on Friday, August 29, is set for 2:00 PM ET.