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The Lady Wildcats host Texas College at 5 p.m. Friday.
The Lady Wildcats host Texas College at 5 p.m. Friday.
Posted: Aug 28, 2025

Volleyball opens 2025 Season against Texas College, Centenary

The Wiley University volleyball team serves up the 2025 season with a home match against Texas College at 5 p.m. Friday in Alumni Gymnasium. The team then travels to Centenary College of Louisiana for an 11 a.m. match on Saturday at the Gold Dome.
Friday's match will be broadcast on the Urban Edge Network. Fans can view online or download the free app to their mobile devices or smart TVs. The match will be a 'black out' and fans are encouraged to wear all black. Saturday's match will stream on the Centenary Athletics Network. Live statistics will be provided for both matches.
 
The Lady Wildcats enter this season looking to rebound from a 3-16 campaign in 2024. Their last season marked their first postseason absence since 2005. Nearly the entire roster returns, with defensive specialist Fatima Ortega, who graduated in May, being the only significant departure. Shyla Starks was an All-Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Honorable Mention last season. She recorded a team-high 131 kills. Rachelle Santos was another valuable contributor with 96 kills.
 
On defense, T'aja Hardy and Marai Guinyard provided 131 and 118 digs, respectively. Jae Jemmott tallied five solo blocks and five block assists. Nadia Cortez led the team in serving with 37 aces.
For the second straight season, the Lady Wildcats have a new head coach in Frankie Velez. He brings over 30 years of experience. This includes time with the United States Women's Volleyball National Team. Velez is pleased with what he's seen in the preseason.
 
"We have some good players and our chemistry is coming along," Velez said. "They have great energy. I'm looking forward to this season and the games starting. We will see where we go from here."
Velez brought in three new players with freshman setter Madison Herrera from Brookshire, Texas, and University of Arkansas at Monticello transfers Kerrigan Biggs and Asia Griffiths. He thinks these athletes will strengthen the roster.
Friday's opener will mark the first meeting between Wiley and Texas College as non-conference opponents. They competed against each other in the Red River Athletic Conference until Wiley left in 2022. The Lady Wildcats have won all 27 matches and have only lost one set dating back to 2006. They are hoping to get their first home victory since October 15, 2023.
 
Texas College is coming off a 1-17 season and has lost its last 15 matches. It averaged 7.52 kills per set last season. This will be the Lady Steers first visit to Alumni Gymnasium since October 4, 2019.
Saturday's match will mark the third straight season the Lady Wildcats have visited the Ladies. Wiley has won eight of the 24 meetings, with its last victory coming in 2018 in a neutral match at East Texas Baptist University. Centenary is in its second season under the leadership of Kayla Black and is coming off a 1-25 season. They enter the match on a 15-game losing streak.
 
For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats, visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/wvball/index.
 
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 13 varsity sports, women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, softball and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).
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