Volleyball builds momentum into 2026 season

Madison Marx plays volleyabll in Trojan Arena during the 2025 season, Troy Athletics photo

The Troy Trojans Volleyball team looks to build on the late-season momentum from last year after winning four out of the last five games to continue the nine-year streak of making the Sun Belt Tournament. The Trojans carried this momentum into the tournament, defeating Marshall in the first round, but they came up short against No. 1 seed James Madison in the quarterfinals.

Despite the team’s rough start, head coach Josh Lauer and his team maintained a winning home record at Trojan Arena for the seventh consecutive season. This will be Lauer’s 10th season at Troy, alongside associate head coach Brian Musenfechter, with an overall record of 130-129.

Troy has some important roles to fill from last year’s team, offensively and defensively, with the departure of Amiah Bulter and Jaci Mesa. Butler made the All-Sun Belt First Team last season as an outside hitter. She shined as the Trojans’ primary hitter, finishing her career ranked in the top five in program history in career kills and kills per set. Mesa also finished her time at Troy with the fifth-most digs in program history, with 1,270, after starting as libero in 2025.

However, there are multiple key returners from last year’s squad who look to step up and fill the shoes of those who graduated: Kalina Calvillo, Olivia Kwiatkowski and Madison Marx.

Calvillo was a force on the front line for the Trojans last season as the second attacking option with 243 kills, good for 2.41 per set. She was also third on the team with 38 total blocks.

Kwiatkowski also played the outside hitter position, where she displayed two-way abilities by racking up the third-most kills and digs on the team.

Madison Marx excelled in the setter rotation as a freshman, as she led the team in assists with more than five per set. The team will lean on her to distribute the ball to hitters, as her main partner at setter, Jordan Sinness, has moved on.

The Trojans were dangerous from the serving line, leading the Sun Belt in serving aces last season. Calvillo, Marx and Kwiatkowski look to continue adding serving pressure as three of the top five ace servers from 2025. Fans look forward to seeing whether they can top the team's school-record of 17 aces in a single match set last year.

There are many opportunities for Troy fans to see the reloaded volleyball team in action in Trojan Arena as Troy opens its regular season with the Troy Invitational on Aug. 28 against Mercer, with North Alabama and Alabama State also coming to town that weekend.

The Trojans will play host again at the Trojan Invitational Sep. 17-19 before beginning conference play with Louisiana visiting on Sep. 25.