CHICAGO, Ill. – North Park Men's Volleyball is set to kick off its 2026 season following an improved 2025 campaign. Last season marked head coach Brittany Welch's first year at the helm after serving two years as an assistant coach under program founder Mike Sopocy. In her debut season, the Vikings finished 10-17, a three-match improvement from their 8-20 record in 2024, but struggled in conference play with a 2-8 mark. Welch noted that her first year provided both her and the Vikings with much-needed clarity on what it would take for the team to take the next step.
"One of the biggest lessons we learned was that growth has to be intentional and driven by daily standards," Welch said.
This season, Welch has challenged her players to "Be the Change," which has become the team's motto. The phrase sets the standard for raising accountability, preparation, and consistency. According to Welch, becoming the change starts with practice and training habits. To address last year's 2-8 CCIW record, the team has built practices around "serving with purpose, passing under pressure, and holding ourselves accountable to execution every day."
During the offseason, the Vikings focused on emulating game-like reps in training, attaching consequences to mistakes to emphasize the importance of being fundamentally sound. By tracking error percentages, rewarding efficiency, and creating pressure situations that mirror conference play, the goal is to clean up offensive tempo and decision-making.
A major point of concern last season was hitting efficiency, which sat at .183, while opponents hit .245. When asked about improving that number, Welch explained:
"We've emphasized taking smarter swings—understanding when to be aggressive and when to extend the rally—rather than feeling the need to terminate every ball. That includes better shot selection, higher contact points, and attacking with intention instead of forcing errors."
With several senior starters graduating, North Park will lean on its youth and a handful of returning players. Welch expressed excitement about her young roster:
"We're going to have a very young starting group this season. Those players have already proven how valuable they are through their work ethic, competitiveness, and consistency in the gym."
She added that their energy is contagious, their hunger is palpable, and their strong desire to win resonates throughout the team.
North Park's first scrimmage is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, against Indiana Tech, followed by their regular-season opener on Friday, January 16, against Dominican University, a team currently receiving national votes in the Division III polls.
