HELENA — The Carroll College volleyball team is entering the 2026 season with a mix of experience, new faces and high expectations.
After finishing 17-14 overall and 12-10 in Frontier Conference play last season, coach Maureen Boyle believes the Saints are ready to take another step forward this fall. Carroll returns a small but experienced senior class while also welcoming nine new players to the program.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
For Boyle, building chemistry off the court is just as important as performance on it.
“Our focus really is on the relationship before the volleyball and it’s been going really well,” Boyle said.
The Saints are relying on veteran leaders like Lauren Heuiser, Callie Kaiser, Norah Allen, McKaila Balcom and Jansyn Carrizales to help guide the younger roster through the early stages of camp.
“These seniors have decided that they want to leave a legacy, and that matters to me,” Boyle said.
Carroll’s returning experience gives the Saints a foundation to build around as newcomers adjust to the college level and learn the system. Boyle said integrating nine new players into the program has created an early emphasis on team bonding.
“Anytime nine new players come in, nobody knows anybody and you have to figure that out first,” Boyle said.
Despite the roster turnover, the expectations inside the program remain high. The Saints posted a 9-3 record at home last season and are aiming to compete near the top of the Frontier standings in 2026.
“Their expectations ... the bar is pretty high,” Boyle said.
For Carroll, success this season will come down to how quickly the team can grow together both on and off the court. Boyle says the ultimate goal remains competing for a conference championship while building a strong team culture along the way.
“They want to win and I think the carrot is always winning the conference tournament,” Boyle said. “But more than that it’s being together as a team.”
The Saints open their season Aug. 14.
