The Highland Community College volleyball team begins its 2026 season this weekend at the Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford.
The Cougars are coming off a strong 2025 season, finishing 28-14 overall and 6-4 in conference play. Highland averaged 10.47 kills and 9.51 assists per set last season.
This year's team features 16 players, including seven sophomores, eight freshmen and one redshirt sophomore. The Cougars will look to their returning players to provide experience while the freshmen adjust to the college game.
Four Matches in Two Days
Highland will play four matches during the opening weekend:
- Friday, Aug. 21 — 12:15 p.m.: John Wood Community College
- Friday, Aug. 21 — 4:15 p.m.: Schoolcraft College
- Saturday, Aug. 22 — 4:15 p.m.: Montcalm Community College
- Saturday, Aug. 22 — 6:15 p.m.: Spoon River College
The busy weekend will give the Cougars an early test and plenty of opportunities to build team chemistry.
Returning Experience
Highland returns several players from last season, including sophomores Emily Broshous, Kallie Yianibas, Cailyn Lane, Izabella Homewood, Olivia Klinefelter and Audrey Pick.
Yianibas returns at setter, while Broshous provides experience in the back row. Homewood and Lane give Highland returning options at the net.
New Faces
The Cougars also welcome a large freshman class.
Among the newcomers are outside hitters Emily Quine and Mia Diffenderfer, setters Lana Walker and Audri Wilcox, middle blocker Macey Schryver, right-side hitter Jocelyn Hall, defensive specialists Danica Eizenga and Reese Polk and middle blocker Finley Banks.
With nine freshmen on the roster, developing chemistry will be one of Highland's biggest goals early in the season.
Looking Ahead
The opening weekend is the start of a challenging early schedule. Highland will host Carl Sandburg College on Aug. 26 before traveling to Arizona for four more matches Aug. 28-29.
After winning 28 matches last season, the Cougars enter 2026 with high expectations. The Rockford tournament will provide the team's first chance to see how the returning players and newcomers come together.
