Portal Party: Recapping the NCAA Women's Volleyball Transfer Portal

Since opening on Dec. 8, 2024, the transfer portal has drastically changed the landscape of Division 1 Women’s Volleyball.

In the new era of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), athletes truly can choose their own destiny and the sport saw that play out in prominent fashion.

Some programs gained team-changers who will immediately become stars, while others have been ravaged and left with major holes to fill before the start of the 2025 season.

With most of the moves already made, here are the biggest moves from each major conference.

Big Ten

It seems unfit to start with any team other than Purdue. The Boilermakers reached the Sweet 16 before being easily swept aside by eventual national runner-up Louisville.

As a result of this brutal loss, stars Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine - who made up one of the nation’s best outside hitter duo - along with experienced middle blocker Lourdes Myers and right side Lizzie Carr entered the portal.

On the flip side, the Boilers added Akasha Anderson from Michigan State, but it is impossible to replace the production of their former All-Americans. Looking ahead, Purdue’s Big Ten and National Championship hopes certainly take a massive blow.

With Head Coach Matt Ulmer’s departure to Kansas, Oregon also lost several key players, including four starters in Mimi Colyer, Noemie Glover, Colby Neal and Cristin Cline.

Penn State and Nebraska, both of whom clinched a share of the Big Ten title this past season, added pin hitters in key positions of need.

The Nittany Lions filled one of their holes at outside, left by the graduation of two outstanding players Jess Mruzik and Camryn Hannah, with Ohio State’s All-Freshman Team honoree Emmi Sellman. Meanwhile, Nebraska grabbed Baylor right side Allie Sczech to replace captain Merritt Beason.

Wisconsin, who reached the Regional Finals for the seventh consecutive season, lost depth in its backcourt but more than made up for those troubles with what it added in the frontcourt.

All-American and 2022 AVCA Freshman of the Year Mimi Colyer and Grace Egan from Ohio State and Grace Lopez from Miami signed with the Badgers, in what is expected to be an extremely competitive and deep roster next season.

Lastly, USC lost its freshman duo of Jadyn Livings and Favour Anyawnwu to the new darling of the ACC, the SMU Mustangs.

SEC

After winning its eighth straight SEC title, Kentucky somehow got even better this offseason.

With AVCA Player of the Year Finalist Brooklyn DeLeye carrying a massive workload, the Wildcats went out and made a statement with the addition of outside Eva Hudson from Purdue.

This commitment constructs the newest pin hitter power duo and can make a strong case for the best in all of Division 1.

Falling short of a historic three-peat, Texas also bolstered its roster in a huge way. Even after snatching up Ramsey Gary from Indiana, who was considered one of the best liberos on the move, Head Coach Jerritt Elliott was not satisfied.

Following the graduation of Madisen Skinner, the role of the Longhorns’ next big star was up for grabs.

They did not have to wait long to find their next Skinner though, as a couple of weeks after, Torrey Stafford shook up the portal by announcing her decision to leave Final Four perennial Pitt and head to Texas.

Reloading and looking to return to the top, Texas has undoubtedly made its best efforts this offseason.

In short, the conference loaded up on prime attackers this cycle. On top of Kentucky and Texas’ additions, Florida brought in Miami’s Floarmarie Heredia Colon, Conference All-Freshman team member Aniya Madkin and Jordyn Byrd from the Lone Star State.

Big West Player of the Year OH Caylen Alexander, who garnered national recognition after posting 38 kills against Texas State this prior season, committed to Missouri and will look to accelerate the Tigers’ upward trajectory.

ACC

Despite the team’s virtually season-long run ranked atop the nation and fourth straight Final Four appearance, the Pitt Panthers’ semi final disappointment spurred star sophomore Torrey Stafford to search for a new home.

Stafford’s departure left the team with only one outside on the roster; Dan Fisher and Co. aggressively pursued Oregon redshirt sophomore Sophie Gregoire in response.

Pitt added Florida State libero Emery Dupes and redshirt senior Brooke Mosher from Illinois, both of whom are expected to fill in for the roles played by Emmy Klika and Rachel Fairbanks for the past several seasons.

Bitter conference rival Louisville swung big for Chloe Chicoine and hit. Even with the loss of Head Coach Dani Busboom-Kelly, the strength of the culture and remaining staff proved to be more than adequate for her.

As the former Purdue stud can play multiple positions, it is not yet crystal clear what position she will play for the Cardinals, but expect Chicoine to virtually act as the squad’s next Anna Debeer.

Sam Erger and her SMU Mustangs who burst out onto the scene last season also made their mark. Acquiring Jadyn Livings, Favour Anyanwu, Madison Scheer, Jordyn Schilling, Malaya Jones and Averi Carlson, the team’s talent is off the charts.

Some protest this approach and complain about the lack of homegrown talent within the program, but all that is remembered at the end of a season is the winner; the Mustangs seem to be willing to do whatever it takes to get to that point.

Big 12

As mentioned above, with Matt Ulmer choosing Kansas, Cristin Cline, his star freshman setter, followed him to Lawrence and will step in for 2023 Conference Setter of the Year Camryn Turner.

After winning the conference in 2024, Arizona State took advantage of the coaching change at Oregon, landing former Ducks Noemie Glover and Colby Neal.

These additions bolster their chances of repeating and will surely keep the Sun Devils among the top programs in the nation - a status that they have recently acquired.

Round Up

After a wild offseason, most programs have gotten back to work this month with their spring seasons and aspire to translate these moves into on-court success.

Make sure to catch the action this fall as the momentum of volleyball as a whole continues to build.

Luke Armstrong is a first-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact him, email lea5382@psu.edu