Volleyball opens season on the road against Fire Ants

Volleyball opens season on the road against Fire Ants
August 21, 2025

Raleigh, N.C. — Wake Tech Volleyball opens their 2025 campaign on the road Thursday evening, with a trip to USC Sumter to take on the Fire Ants. The match will be streamed from USC Sumter's Hudl page, and the final score will be posted on Wake Tech Volleyball X (@waketechvb) and Instagram (@waketechvolleyball) accounts. 

Wake Tech has played in two preseason contests, a tri-match with Sandhills and Cape Fear, and an exhibition with NCAA DIII Meredith College on Wednesday.

"We've had a very productive preseason," head coach Liz Reif said, "building on what we accomplished last season. We have clear goals this year, and it's going to require hard work and focus every time we take the court."

The 2025 roster is built up of four sophomores and eight new freshmen. Sophomore Kristin Dodds is a transfer from Sandhills Community College and was named an NJCAA DIII First Team All-American in her freshman season. 

The Eagles beat the Fire Ants 3-1 in last season's home opener. Mary Barnes, one of three returning players from last year's team, had 14 assists and four digs in the victory.

Sophomore middle blockers Skylar Bakowski and Madison Fisher are also back this season, and Reif will lean on their leadership this season. 

"Our returners know how competitive our league is, and what the expectations are throughout the season," Reif said. "They need to step up as leaders for our team, and I'm excited to have all of them back this season."

There are also two additions to Reif's coaching staff, Darren Roberts and Meagan Smith. Roberts is also the head beach volleyball coach, where Reif serves as an assistant, and works closely with the players that compete for both teams. Smith, a Raleigh native, played for the Eagles in 2021, when Reif was an assistant coach. 

On Saturday, the Eagles return home for a match against Caldwell Tech. That match is scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm, in Building K on the Scott Northern Wake Campus. Admission is $10, but free for all Wake Tech students, faculty, and staff (with Wake Tech ID), and for all fans 18 and under. All home matches will be streamed on the Wake Tech Eagles YouTube channel.