Volleyball looks to set the foundation in 2025

This Friday, a new chapter opens for the Linfield volleyball program, as first-year head coach Jenna Street aims to lift the team to the Northwest Conference tournament, and an overall winning record for the first time since 2016. Hired back in February, Street brings a blend of success at the NAIA, high school, and club level to McMinnville. 

The Wildcats said goodbye to a pair of seniors in Paige Richards and Marina Erosa, as well as standout freshman Kanoe Contreras. Richards led the team with 23 matches played last season, notching team-highs in digs (243), digs per set (3.0), and sets played (81). Erosa added 131 kills from a season ago, while Contreras moves on after leading the team with 365 assists. 

With last season's departures of Richards at Libero, and Contreras at Setter, two key roles open up for new 'Cats to flourish on the court.

Linfield volleyball welcomes in an array of new faces to the team, including seven freshman and five transfers. The 'Cats look to Care Elfner, Autumn Gaboury-Parker, Ruby Ochoa, and Kayla Rietdyk as newcomers to the team already with collegiate experience. Gaboury-Parker joins Coach Street in the move from Warner Pacific after two seasons with the Knights, competing in 39 matches and totaling 189 kills and 10 aces. Elfner trades in her blue for purple, arriving from Baruch College in New York after a pair of seasons where she competed in 30 matches, adding 87 assists and 19 aces on her way to All-Conference honors. Ochoha spent a pair of seasons in the Northwest Athletic Conference with the Clark College Penguins, seeing action in 48 matches, earning 168 kills and 11 aces for her career thus far. Maria Alvarez hosts the most experience of the transfer class, entering with 65 matches played where she claimed 246 digs, including 199 in 2024. 

For Coach Street, a fresh start of newcomers mixed with familiar faces who look to establish a strong team culture and winning mentality. 

The ‘Cats open the season this weekend in Salem, Oregon, on Willamette’s campus for the Oregon Trail Classic. With both matches streaming live on FloSports, Linfield will face California Lutheran at 3 p.m., followed by Pacific Union (Calif.) immediately after at 5 p.m.

Next weekend, volleyball hits the road, returning to Coach Street's alma mater in California Lutheran for the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational. The ‘Cats are set to face three Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams in Redlands, Cal Lutheran, and Chapman. A five-game non-conference schedule featuring strong regional opponents will be a great test for the ’Cats to begin the season, and prepare for the Northwest Conference schedule to follow. 

Tabbed eighth in the NWC Preseason Coaches Polls, Linfield volleyball is ready to prove many doubters wrong in 2025. The ‘Cats begin the Northwest Conference season first at Pacific on September 17th, before returning home for three-straight matches inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium; with the Linfield Alumni match mixed in as well. Street and the team's home opener will prove to be a tough test against reigning NWC champion Whitworth on September 26th. 

The team closes out the season with three of four matches on their home court, with hopes of securing berth into the NWC Volleyball tournament.