DePaul University Athletics
Friday, August 29
Kalamazoo, Mich.
2 p.m.
DePaul University
vs
Illinois State
DePaul Opens Regular Season at Western Michigan Tournament
8/28/2025 11:52:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Blue Demons to face Illinois State, Oakland and Western Michigan
CHICAGO – DePaul volleyball travels to Kalamazoo, Michigan to open its regular season at the Western Michigan Tournament, Aug. 29-31. DePaul will face Illinois State, Oakland and Western Michigan over the three-day event. Friday and Saturday's matches will be streamed on Bronco All-Access, while the Sunday match against Western Michigan will air on ESPN+. First serve for all three matches is set for 2 p.m. CT.
"This fall's opening weekend has been nearly two years in the making," said head coach Marie Zidek.
What Colleen [Munson] continues to build with the Broncos is a program that produces impact players but also sustains success each year even as those players graduate. Thanks to the development of those waiting in the wings, each player is prepared to step into larger roles and carry the momentum forward.
This season, we step into that same challenge. Last fall, we graduated over 950 kills, one of our main setters, and the BIG EAST Libero of the Year. At DePaul, program responsibility begins the minute a player commits. The challenge is to become a program that will sustain competitive success with new players and to chase a new game that has their unique mark in it.
Every day in training, we've embraced that standard - pushing for a higher level of play, linking points together and showing grit in everything we do, as one team."
Zidek and her staff welcomed eight new faces to the program during the offseason, including transfer Jade Dudley-Epps, who started in 18 matches and earned Mountain West All-Tournament recognition as a true freshman at San Jose State. Freshmen Kendall Timme (Dallas, Texas), Isabela Tavares-Salomon (Belo Horizonte, Brazil), Arden Billingsley (Fairfield, Calif.), Martina Diana (Crema, Italy), Eva Hurrle (Indianapolis, Ind.), Ryan Gorski (Scotch Plains, N.J) and Morgan Stewart (Two Rivers, Wisc.) will look to make an immediate impact as the Blue Demons seek their fourth BIG EAST tournament qualification in five seasons.
"The next generation of DePaul volleyball, championed through respect, responsibility and commitment is here. We are hunting, we are chasing. As players graduate, the responsibility falls to the next person up to continue compounding our momentum.
Opening against the tournament field of Illinois State, Oakland and Western Michigan gives us the opportunity to begin crafting this new chapter. What a privilege it is for this 2025 team to have program responsibility and be trusted to carry the DePaul name. We will have many stories this year and are determined to build a team with a strong game that people can feel connected to and inspired by."
REDBIRD REPORT
UP NEXT
The Blue Demons return to action at the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational in Springfield, Mo., Sept. 5-6. They will face UTSA, Lindenwood and Missouri State during the two-day event.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
Stay up to date with all things DePaul Volleyball at DePaulBlueDemons.com. For real-time updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or sign up for email updates and text alerts.
2025 SEASON TICKETS
Secure your seat inside McGrath-Phillips Arena and experience the excitement of DePaul Volleyball up close! Season ticket memberships include access to all regular season home matches in Lincoln Park. Choose from Courtside Seating ($79 per seat) or General Admission Bleacher Seating ($49 per seat). Visit https://depaulbluedemons.evenue.net/events/VB to reserve your seats today.
"This fall's opening weekend has been nearly two years in the making," said head coach Marie Zidek.
What Colleen [Munson] continues to build with the Broncos is a program that produces impact players but also sustains success each year even as those players graduate. Thanks to the development of those waiting in the wings, each player is prepared to step into larger roles and carry the momentum forward.
This season, we step into that same challenge. Last fall, we graduated over 950 kills, one of our main setters, and the BIG EAST Libero of the Year. At DePaul, program responsibility begins the minute a player commits. The challenge is to become a program that will sustain competitive success with new players and to chase a new game that has their unique mark in it.
Every day in training, we've embraced that standard - pushing for a higher level of play, linking points together and showing grit in everything we do, as one team."
Zidek and her staff welcomed eight new faces to the program during the offseason, including transfer Jade Dudley-Epps, who started in 18 matches and earned Mountain West All-Tournament recognition as a true freshman at San Jose State. Freshmen Kendall Timme (Dallas, Texas), Isabela Tavares-Salomon (Belo Horizonte, Brazil), Arden Billingsley (Fairfield, Calif.), Martina Diana (Crema, Italy), Eva Hurrle (Indianapolis, Ind.), Ryan Gorski (Scotch Plains, N.J) and Morgan Stewart (Two Rivers, Wisc.) will look to make an immediate impact as the Blue Demons seek their fourth BIG EAST tournament qualification in five seasons.
"The next generation of DePaul volleyball, championed through respect, responsibility and commitment is here. We are hunting, we are chasing. As players graduate, the responsibility falls to the next person up to continue compounding our momentum.
Opening against the tournament field of Illinois State, Oakland and Western Michigan gives us the opportunity to begin crafting this new chapter. What a privilege it is for this 2025 team to have program responsibility and be trusted to carry the DePaul name. We will have many stories this year and are determined to build a team with a strong game that people can feel connected to and inspired by."
REDBIRD REPORT
- The Redbirds return a veteran roster, with ten upperclassmen, and two preseason All-Missouri Valley selections in Aida Shadewald and Khenedi Guest
- Guest, the 2024 Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year, started all 30 matches for the Redbirds and led the team with 99 blocks
- Illinois State tied with Drake for third in the preseason MVC poll, behind only Northern Iowa and UIC
- DePaul is 2-24 all-time against the Redbirds, last emerging victorious at home in 2001
- Krista Rice enters her fourth season at the helm of the Golden Grizzlies, leading the team to an 8-22 tally in 2024
- Oakland graduates or transfers all of its statistical leaders from 2024, bringing in six true freshmen to round out the roster
- On Saturday, the Blue Demons and Golden Grizzlies will square off for just the third time, with DePaul seeking its first win in the series
- A season ago, the Broncos defeated BIG EAST opponent, No. 24 Marquette, en route to the NCAA tournament, where they fell in three sets to Purdue
- Colleen Munson enters her 21st season leading Western Michigan as the winningest coach in program history, including eight consecutive 11-win seasons from 2005-12
- Senior Mary Clare Brusek was the lone Bronco named to the 2025 Preseason All-MAC Team, one of four upperclassmen on the roster
- DePaul is 1-6 all-time against Western Michigan, earning a match win at home in 1993
UP NEXT
The Blue Demons return to action at the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational in Springfield, Mo., Sept. 5-6. They will face UTSA, Lindenwood and Missouri State during the two-day event.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
Stay up to date with all things DePaul Volleyball at DePaulBlueDemons.com. For real-time updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or sign up for email updates and text alerts.
2025 SEASON TICKETS
Secure your seat inside McGrath-Phillips Arena and experience the excitement of DePaul Volleyball up close! Season ticket memberships include access to all regular season home matches in Lincoln Park. Choose from Courtside Seating ($79 per seat) or General Admission Bleacher Seating ($49 per seat). Visit https://depaulbluedemons.evenue.net/events/VB to reserve your seats today.
Players Mentioned
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