Navy Volleyball Reloads With Deep 2026 Roster, Large Freshman Class
The Navy women’s volleyball team will have a different look in 2026, but the Midshipmen are not starting from scratch.
Navy enters the new season with eight returning letter winners, 11 players who were part of last year’s team, eight freshmen and nine total newcomers as head coach Paco Labrador looks to build on a 2025 team that reached the Patriot League Tournament semifinals.
The Midshipmen finished 13-14 overall and 8-8 in Patriot League play last season, placing fifth in the conference before winning a road quarterfinal match in the league tournament. Navy advanced to the tournament semifinals for the eighth time in the last nine editions of the postseason.
That combination of returning experience and a sizable influx of new talent makes Navy one of the more interesting teams to watch in Annapolis this fall.
Experienced core returns
Although the roster features plenty of new faces, Navy brings back considerable match experience.
The Midshipmen used 20 different starting lineups during the 2025 season, and players responsible for 73 starts return in 2026. Eight returners started at least five matches last season. Libero Amara Chambers also returns after serving in that role for 24 matches.
Chambers should again be an important part of Navy’s back-row defense. She averaged 3.27 digs per set overall last season and improved that mark to 3.52 digs per set in Patriot League matches.
Senior Grace Burgoyne will serve as Navy’s captain after starting 14 matches in the middle last season. She averaged 1.58 kills and 0.63 blocks per set during conference play, giving the Midshipmen an experienced presence at the net.
Eike headlines the returning offense
One of the biggest reasons for optimism is the return of Farrah Eike.
Eike missed time early in 2025 while recovering from an injury, but she became Navy’s most productive offensive player during Patriot League play. She averaged a team-high 3.10 kills per set in conference matches.
If Eike can stay healthy throughout the season, she gives Navy an established offensive option capable of becoming the centerpiece of the attack.
Caroline Buffum provides another proven outside hitter after an impressive freshman season. Buffum played in all but one match in 2025 and averaged 2.43 kills per set, the second-highest figure among Navy’s returning players.
Middle blocker Siena Morgan could also see an expanded role. Morgan only started six matches last season, but she started Navy’s final five contests and averaged 1.21 kills per set while hitting .262 over that closing stretch.
Those three give Navy a solid offensive foundation before Labrador even begins incorporating the newcomers.
Boyd returns at setter
There will be some change at setter.
Navy regularly used three setters during the 2025 season, but Isa Boyd is the only member of that group returning in 2026.
Boyd appeared in 90 of Navy’s 109 sets and averaged 4.38 assists per set. Her familiarity with Navy’s system should be valuable while Labrador evaluates several new options at the position.
The Midshipmen also return Madeline Bildeaux, Ally Alessio, Paige Buzzerio, Ellen Gundlach and Baylee Doolan.
Bildeaux totaled 16 kills and 18 blocks in 23 sets last season, while Alessio averaged 1.79 digs per set. Gundlach averaged 2.10 kills per set and Doolan contributed 1.70 digs per set. Buzzerio returns after suffering a season-ending injury on the first day of the 2025 campaign.
Getting Buzzerio back essentially gives Navy another addition without requiring the Midshipmen to look outside the program.
Huge freshman class gives Navy options
Navy’s eight-player freshman class touches nearly every area of the roster.
Setter Caroline Adams arrives as a highly competitive and quick option who should immediately add depth at the position.
Outside hitter Hailey Jacobus gives Navy another versatile attacker capable of contributing as a passer, hitter and blocker.
Freshman Simone Lawson is another intriguing setter option. At 6-foot, Lawson brings unusual size for the position and can also attack as a left-handed hitter, potentially giving Labrador additional flexibility with his offense.
Middle blocker Avery Maddux enters the program with the physical tools to eventually become a major presence at the net, particularly as a blocker.
The outside-hitter group becomes even deeper with Nicole Neal, Mackenzie Palumbo and Izzy Picard.
Neal has experience playing on both pins while also contributing in the back row. Palumbo can play outside or opposite and arrives from a successful high school and club background in the Columbus area. Picard has significant experience carrying an offensive workload and combines power with a dangerous float serve.
Lillian Schultheis rounds out the freshman class as perhaps its most versatile member. The setter/defensive specialist was a multi-sport athlete in high school, competing in volleyball, basketball and lacrosse.
That kind of versatility could prove valuable over a long season.
Jerome brings veteran experience
The lone newcomer who is not a freshman is senior setter Kinamoni “Moni” Jerome.
Jerome joined the team ahead of the season and participated during the spring, giving her time to become familiar with Navy’s system before official competition begins. Labrador praised her volleyball IQ, left-handed attack and energy.
Her addition could be especially significant given the turnover at setter.
Rather than relying entirely on Boyd and freshmen at the position, Navy now has another experienced option capable of competing for playing time and stabilizing the offense.
Navy has several potential lineup combinations
Perhaps the biggest storyline entering the season will be how Labrador puts everything together.
Navy already experimented heavily with its lineup last season, using 20 different starting combinations. That trend could continue early in 2026 with so many players competing for roles.
Eike and Buffum appear capable of anchoring the outside attack, while Burgoyne and Morgan give the Midshipmen experience in the middle. Chambers provides stability at libero, and Boyd returns with significant experience at setter.
The freshmen and Jerome then create competition at nearly every level of the rotation.
For a team that finished exactly .500 in conference play last season, internal competition could be a major positive.
Challenging opening stretch awaits Navy
Navy began preparations with a scrimmage at Morgan State on Aug. 15 and will host Howard for another exhibition on Aug. 22.
The regular season begins Aug. 28 at the Western Michigan Invitational in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Navy will face Indiana State on Aug. 28, host Western Michigan on Aug. 29 and Green Bay on Aug. 30.
The Midshipmen then return to Annapolis for the 15th Kristen Dickmann Invitational from Sept. 4-6 at Wesley A. Brown Field House.
That tournament will bring another Maryland matchup when Navy faces Coppin State on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. Navy will also play Penn on Sept. 5 and Stony Brook on Sept. 6.
Navy later faces another in-state program, Maryland Eastern Shore, on Sept. 12 during Old Dominion’s tournament in Norfolk.
Patriot League play begins Sept. 18 at Colgate.
Army matches highlight conference schedule
As usual, the Army-Navy matches will be among the biggest dates on the schedule.
Navy travels to West Point for the Star Match on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. before Army comes to Annapolis for another meeting on Oct. 17.
The Midshipmen also host Loyola Maryland on Oct. 2 and travel to Baltimore for the rematch on Nov. 8.
The regular season ends Nov. 14 at Lehigh before the Patriot League Tournament begins Nov. 17.
MSB Take
Navy might be young in several places, but this does not look like a complete rebuilding season.
Eike gives the Midshipmen a proven conference scorer. Buffum already showed she could handle a substantial role as a freshman. Chambers provides an experienced libero, Burgoyne brings leadership in the middle and Boyd has played enough sets to give Navy some continuity at setter.
The biggest question is how quickly Labrador can find the right combinations around that core.
Adding eight freshmen creates uncertainty, but it also creates a considerably higher ceiling if several newcomers are ready to contribute immediately.
Navy went 8-8 in the Patriot League last season and still reached the tournament semifinals. With most of its key offensive production returning and a larger pool of players competing for roles, the Midshipmen have a legitimate opportunity to improve on that record in 2026.
The first few tournaments should tell us plenty about how quickly this roster comes together.
Sources: Navy Athletics and Patriot League.
