The UMBC Volleyball team opens the 2025 season this weekend with a pair of matches hosted by Kansas State. The Retrievers and host Wildcats will lift the lid on the season on Friday night at 7:30 pm EST, before UMBC and Delaware do battle on Saturday at noon EST. 

The Retrievers were picked to finish tied for second in a preseason poll of America East coaches, the Conference announced earlier this month. In addition, sophomore outside hitter Hannah Dobbs was voted to the preseason All-Conference team. 

Defending champion New Hampshire received five of six first place votes, with the Retrievers receiving the other. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.

As a freshman last year, Dobbs was named to both the America East All-Conference Second Team and the America East All-Rookie Team.

Transfer Jalynn Brown joined the roster ahead of the 2025 season. Brown, a 6'0 outside hitter, spent her first two seasons at South Florida. The New Smyrna Beach, Florida native has two years of eligibility remaining. 

Ella McAllister, a rising junior, also transferred to UMBC from Lipscomb where she was a defensive specialist/libero. The Marshall, Michigan native will have two years of eligibility remaining.

A pair of Florida natives, Alissa Grant and Natalie Harris, will be beginning their freshman seasons for the Retrievers, while 2024-25 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year Ema Djordjevic also is new to the program. 

Kansas State went 10-17 (8-10 B12) in 2024 and was picked to finish eighth in the 15 team Big 12 in the preseason coaches poll. Redshirt junior Aniya Clinton was selected to the 2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Volleyball Team.

Delaware went 20-7 (15-3 CAA) last year and fell in five-sets int he CAA championship. The Blue Hens re now members of Conference USA where Anna Logan Gillens was named to Conference USA's Preseason All-Conference Team. UD was picked third in the preseason poll, trailing only 2024 NCAA Tournament teams Western Kentucky and UTEP.