A new season of Washington Demon volleyball is right around the corner, and it’s one of the more highly anticipated ones in years. Washington achieved a breakthrough last year by going 17-18, nearly doubling their wing total from 2022 and tallying their most wins since their last winning season in 2007.

The Demons finished second in the Southeast Conference last season, thanks in large part to outside hitter Leighton Messinger, who was named the SEC Player of the Year. The now-junior led the team with 343 kills and 43 serving aces while also contributing on the defensive side with 250 digs and 15 blocked shots.

Washington’s top two other outside hitters also return. Senior Ella Greiner is back after putting up 187 kills, 36 aces and 271 digs last season, while junior Taylor Miksch returns after compiling 110 kills, 31 aces and over 200 digs.

Senior Lauren Hinrichsen will conduct that trio at setter, handing out a team-high 340 assists in that role in 2023 while also racking up 31 aces and 128 digs, while new faces like sophomore middle blocker Layla Green will be asked to take on big roles as well.

But, with most of the roster back, Demons head coach Aaron Six tells KCII Sports that his team knows each other inside and out.

“I think our team chemistry has been strong,” Six says, “and that’s helped us build to the program that we’re at right now.”

Washington will begin the 2024 volleyball season by playing Saturday in a tournament in Grinnell.