Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University has released its 2025 volleyball schedule, which features 28 regular-season matches ahead of the postseason. The Warriors, under the direction of new head coach Micah Rhodes, will open their campaign August 21 at the Missouri Baptist University Invitational in St. Louis, Missouri.
Midland will face a challenging schedule right out of the gate, with seven of its first nine opponents having qualified for the 2024 NAIA National Tournament. In total, 11 of the Warriors’ matches will come against national tournament teams, providing early and consistent tests for a program that has made 11 NAIA Championship appearances in the past 12 seasons.
“We will be challenged, and I couldn’t be more excited to hit the ground running with this particular group of young women,” said Rhodes, who takes over the program following the retirement of longtime head coach Paul Giesselmann. “Opening the season down in St. Louis against four teams that advanced to the NAIA National Tournament final site is about as tough as you can get, but the team will be well-prepared. That level of competition is the standard these players have come to know and expect.”
The 2025 slate opens with four matches over two days in St. Louis, including matchups against perennial powers Viterbo and host Missouri Baptist. After their home opener against York University on August 26, the Warriors head to Omaha for the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic, where they will take on four more quality opponents including College of Idaho, Benedictine (Kan.), and The Master’s.
Rhodes has also emphasized growth and development through the junior varsity program, which includes a home JV/Varsity doubleheader against Grand View University and the addition of the program’s first-ever home JV tournament.
“I really want to embrace the concept of using the JV program as developmental for our younger athletes,” he said. “I’m also excited to have added a non-conference home JV/V doubleheader with Grand View to give our home fans another opportunity to see us play.”
Conference play begins September 6 on the road against College of Saint Mary. Midland will play 16 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) matches, concluding regular-season action at home against Hastings College on November 4.
“As always, our tough preseason and conference schedules are designed to prepare us for when it matters most, which is the postseason and our goal of advancing to Sioux City,” Rhodes said. “We aren’t playing for August and September, but instead for November and December.”
Rhodes also shared his outlook for the program’s new chapter, stating, “I’m excited for the players to embrace the change that comes with new leadership, while remaining true to who we are as a team and program. The standards and expectations are the same. We are competing for a national championship. But my hope is that the players will take pride in beginning a new era of Midland Volleyball.”
Postseason play is set to begin with the GPAC Tournament on November 8, with the NAIA National Championship Opening Round on November 22. The NAIA Championship Final Site will once again take place in Sioux City, Iowa from December 3-9.
Key returners from last year’s squad include All-GPAC First Team honoree and Freshman of the Year Brooklynn Snyder, as well as All-GPAC Honorable Mention selection Cameran Jansky.
2025 Midland Volleyball Schedule Highlights
- Season Opener: August 21 vs. Viterbo University (St. Louis, Mo.)
- Home Opener: August 26 vs. York University (Fremont, Neb.)
- Conference Opener: September 6 at College of Saint Mary
- Homecoming Match: September 27 vs. Dakota Wesleyan University
- Final Home Match: November 4 vs. Hastings College
- NAIA Championship Dates: December 3-9 (Sioux City, Iowa)
For a complete look at the 2025 Midland Volleyball Schedule [CLICK HERE]. A printable schedule can also be found here [PDF SCHEDULE].
