Women's volleyball is taking center stage this week as thrilling matches, historic commitments, and fierce rivalries are making headlines across the collegiate landscape. From Texas Tech's gritty comeback over Duke to the seismic recruiting news out of Notre Dame, and the ever-intensifying MEAC rivalry, the sport is serving up drama and excitement that fans crave. Let's dive into the latest developments lighting up the volleyball world.
On September 3, 2025, the Texas Tech Red Raiders delivered a statement win against the Duke Blue Devils in Athens, Georgia. The match was a rollercoaster, with momentum swinging wildly between the two sides. Duke stormed out of the gates, taking the first set 25-14 and looking every bit the favorite. The Blue Devils hit a blistering .387 in that set, while Texas Tech struggled to find its rhythm, managing just seven kills and hitting a paltry -.033. Five of those kills came from the ever-reliable Reagan Engler, but the Red Raiders seemed momentarily lost.
But volleyball is nothing if not unpredictable. Texas Tech flipped the script in the second set, dominating Duke 25-10. The turnaround was dramatic—Tech hit .360, while their defense, anchored by Aliyah McDonald and Sierra Grizzle, held Duke to a shocking -.167 hitting percentage. McDonald was a force at the net, involved in four of the team's five blocks that set, while Grizzle and Peyton Dunn patrolled the back line with 15 combined digs. Suddenly, it was a brand new ballgame.
The third set saw Texas Tech keep the pedal down. Jumping to an early 8-4 lead, the Red Raiders forced Duke into a timeout after back-to-back aces from Tatum Johnson. Duke clawed back, narrowing the gap, but a quick 4-1 run from Tech reestablished control. The dynamic duo of Kalli Jioshvili Ravva and Engler combined for seven of the team’s nine kills, helping the Red Raiders secure a 25-17 win and a 2-1 match lead.
But the fourth set? That was something else. It was a nail-biter, featuring 11 ties and three lead changes. Fans were on the edge of their seats as both teams traded blows, neither willing to give an inch. In the end, Texas Tech edged Duke 28-26, thanks in large part to Addie Kanouff’s heroics. Kanouff recorded a career-high 14 kills—10 of them coming in the decisive fourth set alone—while hitting an impressive .440 for the match and getting in on four blocks. Her dominance in crunch time was the difference-maker. "Kanouff took the set over recording a career-high 10 kills in the fourth set alone while hitting .692," the official recap noted.
Engler continued her remarkable consistency, notching double-digit kills for the fourth straight match and matching Kanouff with 14 kills. She also secured her second double-double of the season by adding 12 digs. Jioshvili Ravva had a breakout night as well, finishing with 11 kills on .281 hitting, five digs, and an ace.
Defense was a team effort, with McDonald tallying 7.0 blocks and three kills. Grizzle, the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, led with 20 digs and chipped in six assists. Peyton Dunn, who entered in the second set, orchestrated the offense with 29 assists and contributed three kills, three blocks, and seven digs. The back row also stepped up, with Emily Contreras, Ashlyn Bellamy, and Tatum Johnson combining for 21 digs—Contreras leading the trio with nine.
Texas Tech’s overall hitting percentage stood at .226, outpacing Duke’s .141. The win improved the Red Raiders’ record to 3-1, while Duke fell to 1-3. Looking ahead, Texas Tech will face host team Georgia on September 5 at 6 p.m. Central Time. The Red Raiders appear to be finding their groove, with both veterans and rising stars making their mark.
Meanwhile, the recruiting trail was buzzing with the news that Isabella Sangha, a top 2026 volleyball and basketball prospect, has committed to Notre Dame. The 6-foot-3 post player made her decision public on September 3, 2025, choosing the Fighting Irish over Iowa State. Sangha’s commitment is a major coup for Notre Dame, as she plans to compete in both sports at the collegiate level.
“I think especially with the academics at Notre Dame, especially being raised in a high academic household, the big thing was having that,” Sangha told Rivals. Her relationship with the volleyball coaches and her lifelong admiration for Notre Dame’s women’s basketball program played significant roles in her choice. She cited inspiration from stars like Arike Ogunbowale and Coach Niele Ivey, saying, “I’ve always been a fan of Notre Dame, so I think especially with that connection and knowing this is a dream I’ve always had, I think that was the big deciding factor.”
Sangha is confident in her ability to make an impact, stating, “I have a lot of confidence in myself, so I know I can definitely play for a great program. It’s just really up to me. I think making a decision where I’m kind of in control of it, like where I can control how I get better, I can control what impact I make, is a big thing…I knew that I wasn’t going to regret a decision if I could control the outcome.”
Describing her playing style as athletic and versatile, Sangha expects to fit right into Notre Dame’s system. “Especially with how I run the court, I think it wouldn’t be a situation where I’m just a big and I stand there,” she explained. “I think it would definitely be using a lot of my athleticism and, kind of like how Maddy [Westbeld] played…She’s very versatile and she has good moves and mid-range and she’s around my size, maybe a little bit taller, I would say. But I think that is kind of the big thing – when they were able to play with her so well and have players that use their athleticism.” Sangha’s arrival is expected for the 2026 season, and anticipation is already building around her future contributions.
Shifting gears to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the league has entered a new era of parity and excitement. For years, Howard University dominated MEAC volleyball, but the last six seasons have seen Delaware State and Coppin State rise to prominence, creating a true “Big Three” rivalry. Howard captured championships in 2019 and 2021, while Delaware State broke a decades-long drought with titles in 2022 and 2024. Coppin State stunned the conference in 2023, sweeping Howard for its first-ever championship.
With only one MEAC team earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament each year, every matchup between these three powerhouses carries enormous weight. The rivalry has transformed the league, injecting drama and making volleyball a marquee event alongside football and basketball in HBCU sports. As the 2025 season dawns, Howard enters as the preseason favorite, but both Delaware State and Coppin State are poised to challenge for the crown once again.
From Athens to South Bend, and across the MEAC, women’s volleyball is surging with fresh storylines, rising stars, and epic rivalries. As Texas Tech prepares for its next challenge, Isabella Sangha readies for her dream career at Notre Dame, and the MEAC’s Big Three gear up for another dramatic season, the sport is clearly in good hands. The coming weeks promise more action, more surprises, and plenty for fans to cheer about.
