GARY, Ind. — The Indiana University Northwest women's volleyball team enters the 2026 season with experience on its side, returning eight players from last year's roster while preparing for a schedule designed to challenge the RedHawks early and throughout Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
IU Northwest finished the 2025 season with a 13-21 overall record and a 9-9 mark in CCAC play. With a year of experience under their belts, the RedHawks return a group that accounted for significant production across the court last season, providing a foundation for head coach Alondra Avalos and the program heading into 2026.
Among the returning contributors are
Lindsey Krueger,
Gabi Lilovich,
Raniyah Preston,
Kaelan Murphy and
Trinitie Lintner, who each played significant roles in the RedHawks' offensive and defensive efforts last season. Krueger led the team with 245 kills, while Lilovich and Preston combined for more than 900 assists. Lintner led the team with 97 total blocks, while
Eva Everett paced the defensive effort with 377 digs.
The RedHawks also welcome back
Abby Allen and
Marissa Gutierrez, adding further depth and experience to the roster.
While the returning core provides continuity, IU Northwest will face a demanding schedule from the opening weekend. The RedHawks will begin the 2026 campaign at the Clarke Tournament on Aug. 21-22, facing Huston-Tillotson University, Waldorf University and host Clarke University.
Following the opening tournament, IU Northwest will host Goshen College on Aug. 26 before traveling to the Southwestern Michigan Women's Collegiate Tournament on Aug. 28-29. The RedHawks will face Midway University, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, IU Columbus and Wright State Lake during the tournament.
The early-season slate will give IU Northwest an opportunity to test itself against a variety of opponents before turning its attention toward conference competition.
CCAC play begins Sept. 3 when the RedHawks travel to Saint Xavier University. IU Northwest will then return home for consecutive conference matches against Judson University and Calumet College of St. Joseph, beginning a conference schedule that will feature nine home matches and nine road contests.
The conference schedule will provide several opportunities for the RedHawks to defend their home court at the Savannah Center. IU Northwest will host Judson, Calumet College of St. Joseph, the University of St. Francis, Saint Xavier, Viterbo University, Mount Mary University, Olivet Nazarene University, Governors State University and IU South Bend.
Outside of conference play, IU Northwest will also compete in a Defiance University Tri-Match on Sept. 19, facing Defiance and Ohio Christian University. The RedHawks will host another tri-match Oct. 2 against Huntington University and the University of Northwestern Ohio, giving the team additional opportunities to compete at home before the final stretch of the season.
The regular season will conclude Nov. 5 when IU Northwest hosts IU South Bend, setting the stage for the CCAC Tournament.
With a challenging nonconference schedule, 12 home contests and an experienced group returning from last season, the RedHawks enter 2026 with an opportunity to build on the foundation established a year ago.
The combination of returning production and a demanding schedule will test IU Northwest throughout the fall, with the goal of preparing the RedHawks for a strong finish when conference postseason play arrives.
