CHICAGO, Ill. North Park Women's Volleyball enters the 2026 season with an experienced player directing the offense, an all-conference presence at the net and a returning starter anchoring the back row.

Senior setter Kendal Britton, senior middle blocker Meg Rothermel and sophomore libero Tessa Wabiszewski return to the starting lineup for the Vikings. Together, the trio gives North Park continuity at three critical positions following an 18-13 campaign in 2025.

Rothermel enters her senior season as North Park's most accomplished returning attacker. A two-time All-CCIW selection, she earned Second Team All-CCIW recognition in 2025 after previously being named First Team All-CCIW and the conference's Freshman of the Year in 2023. She also captured CCIW Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 29 last season.

The 5-foot-11 middle blocker led North Park in total blocks and points last fall, finishing 2025 with 99 blocks, including 28 solo efforts, and 335.5 points across 115 sets. Rothermel also totaled 249 kills and hit .300, making her one of the Vikings' most efficient offensive options. Her season included a career-best 16 kills against Heidelberg, nine blocks against Denison and a .478 hitting performance with 13 kills against Carroll.

With several of North Park's top outside hitters from 2025 no longer appearing on the current roster, Rothermel stands as the Vikings' leading returning performer in kills, hitting percentage, blocks and total points. Her ability to score in front of and behind the setter, while also controlling the net defensively, will make her a central part of North Park's attack.

Britton returns to run the offense after a record-setting junior season. The 5-foot-9 setter appeared in all 119 sets and distributed 1,081 assists, an average of 9.08 per set. She also contributed 241 digs, 60 service aces, 59 kills and 25 total blocks, establishing herself as one of North Park's most productive all-around players.

Her 60 aces are the highest returning total from the 2025 team, while her 241 digs rank first among players listed on the current roster. Britton set a season high with 54 assists against Millikin, recorded 21 digs against Governors State and served seven aces against Franklin. She was named CCIW Setter of the Week four times during the campaign, setting a North Park program record for weekly conference honors by a setter in one season.

Wabiszewski rounds out the returning group after quickly earning a place in the lineup during her first collegiate season. The New Berlin, Wisconsin, native played in 109 sets and produced 184 digs, 29 service aces and 16 assists while averaging 1.69 digs per set. She registered a season-best 21 digs against Governors State and served four aces in North Park's match against Millikin.

Now listed as a libero after competing as a libero and defensive specialist in 2025, Wabiszewski is positioned to take on a larger role in serve reception and back-row organization. Her 184 digs and 29 aces rank second among North Park's returning players in both categories, trailing only Britton.

The Vikings will look to build around that returning core while integrating a reshaped roster. North Park produced 1,391 kills, 1,292 assists, 274 service aces and 1,766 digs as a team in 2025, averaging 11.7 kills, 10.9 assists, 2.3 aces and 14.8 digs per set. The Vikings also held opponents to a .161 hitting percentage and finished with 192 total blocks.

"There's a different energy around this team," said Sopocy, "and we're really excited about what that's going to look like on the court. We have a hungry group of seniors who are motivated to make this season special, and they're setting the tone for everyone around them. We also have a talented freshman class, and I expect several of them to step in and earn meaningful playing time right away. Add in a transfer who is coming home to finish her career, and we've got a really exciting mix of experience, youth and talent. We're going to play with a new style, a new identity and a lot of confidence. We're hungry, we're excited, and we're ready to see just how far this group can take us."

North Park opens its 2026 regular season at the Sewanee Invite in Sewanee, Tennessee. The Vikings are scheduled to face Lynchburg and Transylvania on Friday, Sept. 4, before meeting host Sewanee on Saturday, Sept. 5. North Park's home schedule begins the following weekend with the Windy City Invite at Carlson Gymnasium.