Volleyball Season Preview

Pensacola State College Volleyball is gearing up for an exciting 2025 Fall season, riding a wave of momentum after securing back-to-back NJCAA Region 8 Championship titles. Following a fourth-place national finish in 2023, the Pirates returned to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the 2024 NJCAA National Tournament, once again solidifying their status as one of the top programs in the NJCAA.

The Pirates will prepare for conference play with a competitive preseason schedule. PSC kicks off their campaign with a trip to Rockford, Illinois, for the annual Sports Recruits Opening Weekend Tournament (OWT), where they'll face nationally ranked opponents such as Kirkwood Community College and Johnson County. The following weekend (August 29–30), PSC will host the Pensacola State Invitational, welcoming four formidable teams, including nationally ranked Kansas City Community College.

Looking ahead to October, Pensacola will host its second home tournament of the season—the Pensacola Premier—featuring matchups against three nationally ranked programs: Enterprise State, Heartland, and Illinois Central, along with a strong Jones College squad.

Coach Gandolfo returns with a solid core of nine players from the successful 2024 roster. Key returners include sophomore setter Lauren Schuessler and outside hitter Catie Woolf. Schuessler earned her spot in the lineup midseason last year and led the team to the national tournament, finishing her freshman campaign with a team-high 623 assists. Woolf was a consistent force on the court, leading the Pirates with 272 kills.

Other returning contributors include defensive specialist Olivia McDaniel, right-side hitter Sofia Ortiz, middle hitter Reece Varden, outside hitters Maddie Goodwin and Laila Greene, middle hitter Marisa Beaubien, and versatile middle/right-side hitter Danielle Lee.

Joining the squad are six talented newcomers: setter Kendall Judge, middle/right-side hitter Taegan Scott, defensive specialists Hannah Bradley and Addison Danforth, right-side hitter Georgia Nies, and outside hitter Ella Pinches.

The Pirates open their conference schedule on the road against St. Petersburg College on September 4, before returning home to Hartsell Arena for their first conference matches September 12–14, beginning with a showdown against South Florida State.