GREENSBORO, N.C. –  The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) volleyball team will begin the 2025 regular season this Friday and Saturday by hosting the Spartan Classic in Fleming Gymnasium. The squad welcomes Queens, Sacred Heart and Gardner-Webb for the two-day tournament.
 
For more information on the 2025 Spartan Classic click here.
 

 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS

• The 2025 squad features 10 returners and six newcomers. Out of the six newcomers four are transfer students and two are freshmen.
• UNCG was picked to finish The Southern Conference (SoCon) regular season in a tie for fifth place with Chattanooga.
• Sophomore Outside Hitter Allie Sweet was selected to the SoCon Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Sweet's preseason nod comes after being named SoCon Freshman of the Year, while also being voted to the All-SoCon First Team and All-Freshman Team last season.
• Sweet concluded the 2024 season leading the conference with a 4.16 kills per set average. She is the returning leader in kills for the Spartans with 458 last season.
• Izora Gragg returns as the leading setter for the Spartans after notching 1,022 assists last season.
• Chloe Nussbaum returns for her sophomore year as the best libero and server on the team last season with 443 digs and 26 aces in her freshman campaign.
• UNCG recorded an 8-22 overall record and 2-14 mark in the SoCon last season.
• The team defeated No. 8 Western Carolina in the first round of the SoCon Tournament, 3-0, for its first match win in postseason play since 2017. However, the season was concluded with a 3-0 loss to No. 1 Mercer in the SoCon Quarterfinal round.

SCOUTING QUEENS 

• The Royals are coming off a historic 2024 season, earning the program's first-ever bid to the ASUN Conference Tournament.
• Queens concluded the 2024 season with a 9-19 overall record and 6-10 mark in the ASUN.
• The 2024 season was ended with a 3-0 loss to Florida Gulf Coast in the first round of the ASUN Tournament.
• Head Coach Matt Stolz is in his first season as the head coach of the Queens women's volleyball program.
• Emma Norris returns as the leader in kills from last season with 143.
• Tyley Collins is the returning leading libero from last season with 340 digs.
• Marlee Cook returns from last season after finishing second on the team with 183 assists.

SERIES HISTORY VS QUEENS
The Spartans and Royals have faced off on two occasions in program history with UNCG owning the 2-0 record. The two team's most recent meeting came on Sept 6, 2022, in Greensboro with the Spartans taking the 3-1 victory in Fleming Gymnasium.

SCOUTING SACRED HEART  

• The Pioneers welcome back 10 players from last season's roster, including four starters. 
• Sacred Heart added eight players, a mix of first years and transfers.
• The Pioneers concluded the 2024 slate with a 15-16 overall and 11-7 nod in their inaugural season in the MAAC.
• Sacred Heart was previously in the Northeast Conference (NEC).
• The Pioneers were picked to finish fourth in the 2025 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Miliani Villarreal was named to the 2025 Preseason All-MAAC Team.
• Middle blockers Villarreal and Cristina Montanez combined for 182 total blocks last season, with Montanez setting a new single-season program record with 117.
• Villarreal finished the 2024 season 26^th in the country with 549 digs and 42^nd in digs per set at 4.73.

SERIES HISTORY VS SACRED HEART
Friday night's meeting between the Spartans and Pioneers will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB  

• Gardner-Webb recorded a 5-23 overall record last year and went 3-11 in the Big South.
• Outside hitter Isabel Sandstrum made the All-Big South Freshman Team following a stellar debut campaign. 
• Sandstrum ranked second on the team with 193 kills and 2.17 kills per set. 
• Sloane Rooney returns after leading the team with 4.25 assists per set last season. 
• The Bulldogs were selected to finish in last place in the 2025 Big South Preseason Poll.

 
SERIES HISTORY VS GARDNER-WEBB
UNCG holds a 10-2 overall advantage against Gardner-Webb. The two teams last met on Sept. 18, 2010, with the Spartans taking a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs in Fleming Gym.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will begin the 2025 road slate in Buies Creek, North Carolina, on Friday Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6 with the Campbell Invitational. Across the two-day event, UNCG will face Norfolk State, Gardner-Webb and Campbell in Gore Arena.