Northwest Missouri State volleyball is looking for a resurgence in 2026.
After nine consecutive seasons posting records above .500, the Bearcats struggled down the stretch in conference play last fall finishing with a 9-16 overall mark.
But with a new season ahead, Northwest hit the reset button and is ready for a fresh start.
"We are an improved bunch," head coach Amy Woerth said Tuesday morning inside Bearcat Arena. "I think the people we brought in are adding to us, and I think that goes to show because they came in July. That commitment level has helped us. It's impressive."
As practices open up this week, Woerth isn't focused on the finished product down the line, but instead the details to get there.
"We're really diving deep into what we're doing. We're not necessarily talking about results. We're talking about process."
The team's early arrival, with many showing up weeks in advance of the first practice, is a big step forward for a team trying to find its chemistry.
Of the 16 on the roster, six are new to Northwest Missouri State.
"Our saying with 'brick by brick' is 'it's all about the mortar,'" Woerth said. "What goes in between those bricks is very important. They've had off-court assignments about doing this at someone's house and that at someone's house, so it's been very intentional. Our whole thing is how can we be really gelled by the time we start."
Northwest is just over two weeks away from the season opener. The Bearcats play Maryville University August 27th in the McKendree Invitational.
