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A veteran Troy Trojans volleyball program is coming into 2024 with one thing on their minds, a championship.

The Trojans return one of the most veteran groups of teams in the Sun Belt Conference heading into 2024. While record-setting middle hitter Julia Brooks is now playing professionally, almost the entirety of Troy’s remaining production from the 2023 team is returning.

“We have a lot of players coming back,” Troy Coach Josh Lauer said. “Tori Hester, Janelle Stuempfig, Amiah Butler, Jaci Messa; those are four people that have been playing for a long time for us. Caroline Darracott is another veteran returner. We have some players with a lot of experience.”

Both Hester and Stuempfig earned All-Sun Belt honors in 2023. Hester ranked second in the Sun Belt with 399 kills and fourth with 42 aces along with 274 digs and 35 blocks on the season. Stempfig ranked second in the conference with 999 assists, while she also tallied 191 digs, 38 blocks, 66 kills and 16 aces.

Butler tallied 353 kills, 89 digs and 41 blocks last season, while Messa earned 20 aces, 74 assists and 365 digs.

“I think our leadership group is very strong,” Lauer said. “Stuempfig and (Sophie) Sparks and Hester as our older group is the heart and soul of our leadership. We have others that branch off and do a great job like Caroline (Darracott) as a senior, she really sets the tone for us defensively. Olivia Grantham has been a really great locker room person for us. You really need players like that.

“All of that experience that Mesa and Butler have is super invaluable, as well. We’re fortunate to have a lot of high character committed players in this program that can each shoulder some responsibility.”

While Troy’s returning veterans provide the backbone for the team, there are also some impressive newcomers including a rare transfer for the Troy program. Jordan Sinness – the sister of former Troy softball star Jade Sinness – transferred to Troy from Auburn this offseason.

“We got our first transfer in quite some time in Joran Sinness. She obviously has those Troy connections and we actually recruited her out of high school,” Lauer said. “She finished up early at Auburn and still had some desire to play volleyball and she wants to be a nurse. So, coming to Troy was a natural fit. We’re really excited about what she brings to the team as far as her personality, competitiveness and athleticism.”

Troy also boasts an impressive freshman class.

“They’re all coming from a high level at the high school and club level and they all bring something different to the team,” Lauer said of the freshman class. “Olivia Kwiatkowski probably hits the ball harder than anyone else in our gym. She has a very physical arm and has a great jump serve that I think will be a weapon for us.

“Kalina Calvillo is very versatile and brings a lot of heat offensively. Ashlynn Axtell is probably our quickest, most athletic middle this year as a true freshman. Kayla Baetzel has been great and she has family connections here at Troy. We’ve continued to add great depth and volleyball IQ to our backcourt. I’m really excited about this group.”

Due to NCAA rules – and the way the practice calendar fell – teams across the nation started fall practices later than normal. Troy, on the other hand, got an early jump on things because of taking a foreign trip as a team during the summer, which gave the Trojans some extra practice opportunities.

“Being able to go to Costa Rica, and get that extra practice experience in July, was really crucial for us being able to be more prepared for the season from a volleyball standpoint,” Lauer emphasized. “The extra practices were very helpful but the other piece of that trip is this is the biggest roster we’ve ever had and that time in Costa Rica gave us a chance to connect and bond outside of our comfort zone and have an experience together that’s meaningful and that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Those things go a long way towards relationships and having a bond when the season gets hectic. It was also an eye-opening experience for players, a lot of which had never been outside the country.”

With a talented, veteran group of Trojans mixed with some athletic newcomers, the goals for this team are simple.

“We’ve moved into the phase where every year we’re taking steps closer and closer to playing for a conference championship and winning it to be able to have a chance to get to the postseason in December,” Lauer said. “Troy has never been in the championship game. So, being in the Sun Belt (Championship) is something that is big on our goal board. We know that is a big task – given how competitive the Sun Belt is – so getting up that last step of that mountain is a formidable challenge.

“I think this group is going to pour their all into it and I think we have a great preseason that will give us an opportunity to play at a high level. If we can stay healthy and stay team-first all the way through, I think we have a chance to compete for that conference championship. Another goal is to crush it in the classroom. This group has been over a 3.5 (GPA) for a long time. They will have high academic goals and meaningful goals for themselves.”

Troy begins conference play on Sept. 26 at home against South Alabama, but before that, the Trojans have a difficult slate of non-conference opponents. After a preseason exhibition on the road at Jacksonville State on Aug. 17, Troy travels to the campus of LSU to face off against Maryland, New Hampshire and LSU Aug. 30-31. The Trojans then head to Auburn for an in-state showdown on Sept. 3 before hosting Cal-Poly on Sept. 7 for the first home match.

On Sept. 10, Troy travels to Alabama State and then hosts the Troy Invitational on Sept. 12-14, bringing The Citadel and Kennesaw State to town. The Trojans wrap that long stretch of non-conference matches on Sept. 20-22 with matchups against Wisconsin and Texas A&M on the campus of Wisconsin.