SIOUX CITY, Iowa. - The 13th seeded Indiana University Kokomo volleyball team is set to open Pool Play at the 2025 NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship Opening Round presented by Marriott South Sioux City Riverfront and Explore Siouxland Thursday, as they are in Pool D alongside #4 seed Indiana Wesleyan and #21 seed Cornerstone (Mich.).
All 24 remaining teams that have made it to the final site in Sioux City are divided into eight pools of three teams, where the team with the best record from each pool will then advance to single-elimination bracket play. If a tiebreaker set is required, it will be played Friday night.
2025 NAIA Volleyball Championship Pool Play Matches
Thursday, December 4th • Sioux City, Iowa •
Tyson Events Center
#13 seed IU Kokomo vs #21 seed Cornerstone • 1:00 PM CT/2:00 PM ET •
Watch Live •
Live Stats
Friday, December 5th • Sioux City, Iowa •
Tyson Events Center
#13 seed IU Kokomo vs #4 seed Indiana Wesleyan • 12:00 PM CT/1:00 PM ET •
Watch Live •
Live Stats
The opening match in Pool D took place Wednesday afternoon, where Indiana Wesleyan swept Cornerstone in straight sets, 25-13, 25-20, 25-18.
IU Kokomo arrives in Sioux City as the No. 13 seed with a 31-5 overall record and a perfect 16-0 mark in conference play. The Cougars captured both the River States Conference regular-season title and the RSC Championship, then advanced to the final site by sweeping Reinhardt in the NAIA Opening Round.
COUGARS TO WATCH
Cornerstone enters Iowa as the No. 21 seed with a 27-8 overall record and a 16-4 mark in conference play. The Golden Eagles secured their berth to the NAIA National Championship by finishing as the WHAC Tournament runner-up, then held off Walla Walla in a five-set battle to earn their trip to Sioux City.
The all-time series between IU Kokomo and Cornerstone is tied at three wins each, with the Cougars taking the most recent meeting in straight sets back in August 2023.
GOLDEN EAGLES TO WATCH
- Aubrey Johnson - 407 kills, 346 digs, 52 blocks
- Gabby VerBerkmoes - 325 kills, 139 blocks
- Josilyn Potter - 255 kills, 133 digs, 57 service aces, 55 blocks
- Payton Hutchinson - 744 assists, 181 digs
- Alison Pignataro - 577 assists, 170 digs
- Gianna Warwick - 599 digs
No. 4 seed Indiana Wesleyan arrives in Sioux City aiming for a third consecutive NAIA National Championship, entering the final site with a 29-4 overall record and a 17-1 mark in Crossroads League play. The Wildcats secured their postseason berth by winning both the league's regular-season and tournament titles, then swept Stephens College in the NAIA Opening Round to punch their ticket to Sioux City for the third straight year.
Indiana Wesleyan leads the all-time series 11–2, though IU Kokomo claimed the most recent meeting in August 2024, winning a five-set thriller on the Wildcats' home floor while IWU held the No. 1 national ranking. The two programs were also grouped together in pool play in 2023, where the Wildcats edged out another five-set battle to advance to the Elite Eight before ultimately capturing the National Championship.
WILDCATS TO WATCH
- Marissa Mullins - 316 kills, 124 blocks
- Eva Joldersma - 304 kills, 183 digs, 37 blocks
- Abbigail Porter - 1127 assists, 303 digs, 47 blocks
- Cadee Notter - 571 digs, 33 service aces
- Marin Sanchez - 276 kills
- Camaya Murry - 315 digs
- Jessica Ickes - 91 blocks
For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on
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