The NYU women’s volleyball team wrapped up its season on Thursday, after falling to Wesleyan University in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Capping off a period characterized by unexpected highs and dampening lows, players reflected on the season in conversations with WSN following their final match.

The Violets finished with a 19-12 record and reached the UAA Championship for the third year in a row, taking third place. Strong performances toward the end of the regular season pushed them into the NCAA tournament, where the team exceeded expectations for a podium finish.

“The season had so many ups and downs, where we’re coming into the tournament ranked 41st but we’ve beaten the 20th seed team,” sophomore hitter Chloe Hynes said. “We know we were capable of placing ourselves much higher, it just kind of worked out a different way.”

Going into the year, the Violets focused on success in the long run. They came into the season with an unwavering winning mindset, using the UAA and NCAA titles as reminders to work hard and put up strong stats.

“We’ve had a couple matches that didn’t go our way in terms of the result,” head coach Andrew Brown said. “But we’ve been able to be battle-tested outside of our conference, with the many regionally ranked opponents that we face — which only helps prepare us for our conference season, where we play some of the most competitive teams in the country.”

Junior captain and outside hitter Grace Nelson led the Violets offensively this season, finishing with 272 kills and 62 service aces. She also delivered one of the year’s biggest moments during theTear it Up! day match, where she became the sixth Violet in history to record 1,000 kills in her career. 

Directing the offense with 682 assists and holding down defensively with 235 digs, senior captain and setter Ava Launsbach continued to be a key two-way player for the Violets. Junior middle blocker Coco Barton anchored the front row, recording 125 blocks to round out a strong season statistically for NYU. 

Early in the season, lessons learned from a five-set loss to Washington University in St. Louis helped guide the team to its later success.

“Before that, we had some struggles with our consistency and finding ways to adapt in a game,” Nelson said. “That game, we just really showed up. And I think that’s kind of in the beginning of the season, when everyone saw what potential we could reach and what we had.”

The team had several standout moments beyond individual stats. Other highlights included two wins over No. 1 seed University of Chicago — first during September’s UAA Round Robin Tournament, and again in the Nov. 16. UAA Championship

The Violets leaned on each other throughout the season, using their chemistry to stay grounded and motivated.

“We all support one another and I think that’s so important because we have only six people on the court, but we have a team of 24,” Hynes said. “Being able to support your teammates, whether you’re on the bench or feel that support when you’re on the court is just so much more important.”

The program graduated five seniors this year: Kaitlyn Sato, Jessica Spierenburg, Sarah Lattan, Eveliena Pasmooji and Launsbach. The group was honored on Nov. 1 during a home match against John Jay College, where the Violets capped the celebration with a 3-0 sweep of the Bloodhounds. 

The Violets used that day to not only demonstrate their appreciation for the outgoing class, according to Hynes, but to signal a transition within the team. Throughout the season, younger players stepped up and made a noticeable impact on the court. 

“​​We’ve had multiple matches where we’ve seen some of our younger first-years get in, and a bunch of them have been actively traveling with our team especially in conference,” Brown said. “Anytime that they’re able to get a taste of the UAA and what that level of play looks like at that early stage of their four-year career is going to be super beneficial.”

For the past few years, due to the effects of COVID-19, the Violets — like many programs — relied on graduate students to help anchor the team. This season, however, they faced the challenge of competing without that safety net. 

Due to this, the Violets began the season with questions concerning the lineup. But the team adapted quickly, becoming flexible with the lineups and allowing players to experiment in new roles and step up on the court. 

“Not having grad transfers was interesting because everyone has to kind of carry their own weight and make sure they can kind of fill any role,” Nelson said. “Nothing was really set for positions. Everyone could really reach for whatever position.”

It was a combination of determination and teamwork that allowed the Violets to compete at a high level all season. Faced with challenges throughout the first few weeks, the team’s ability to quickly adapt and continued reliance upon each other helped them find similar success to 2024.

“This year, it took more than just what talent we had,” Nelson said. “It takes a lot of how disciplined we are on the court and outside of the court, and really holding ourselves to that consistently, and being able to make sure you individually are showing up.”

Contact Emily Barbire at[email protected].