ROCKLIN, Calif. – Two new eras of Jessup Volleyball got underway in the 2024 season as the Warriors stepped foot into Division II, led by a new coach, Kyle Steele. Competing in a new landscape, Jessup made the best of the situation as their 2024 season took them all the way to the NCCAA National Championship game.
 
Steele, who also coached the men's volleyball program to an NCCAA championship, joined the Warriors in March of 2024. Tasked with leading both the men's and women's volleyball programs, the seasoned coach ultimately led his two clubs to a combined record of 34-22.
 
In year one with women's volleyball, Jessup closed the campaign with a 19-13 record.
 
The 32-match schedule took some time for the Warriors to gain a home-court advantage, as Steele's first year saw his team open with nine straight on the road. Jessup picked up their first Division II win, a 3-0 non-conference sweep of Academy of Art, to close out the opening weekend in Fresno. The momentum carried into the next week as Jessup swept their three matches in the Stanislaus State Tournament.
 
Seven matches into the season, the next test would be the PacWest. A win in Atherton on September 25 gave the Warriors the first PacWest win in university history and sent the Warriors home for a lengthy five-match homestand.
 
It would not be easy once home as Jessup battled some of the PacWest's best, resulting in four straight losses on Horton Court. The losing skid went by the wayside in the finale of the homestand when a 3-2 win against Concordia sent Jessup back to the road with momentum at their sails. That wave of momentum resulted in a five-match win streak.
 
The win streak ended on the island of Oahu as Jessup made its first PacWest visit to Hawaii in the closing week of October. Beginning with a win in Hilo, Jessup dropped the middle bout against Chaminade before returning to the winner's circle with a November 2 victory at Hawaii Pacific.
 
At the conclusion of the regular season, Jessup sat 11-9 in PacWest action, placing them in a four-way tie for fourth place.
 
Due to Jessup's provisional NCAA membership status, the Warriors were ineligible for any NCAA postseason competitions. However, when one door closes, another opens, as the Warriors punched their ticket to the NCCAA National Championship as the West Region representative.
 
Pool play in Point Lookout, MO, was a breeze for Jessup as the Warriors swept the board, dropping just one set on their way to securing a spot in the semifinals. Awaiting the Warriors was Bethel University, and once again, Jessup made things look easy with a sweep.
 
On December 7, Jessup hit the court against Grace College for the second time in the tournament. The Warriors swept Grace in their pool play matchup, but the second time around, things did not go the way of Jessup as Grace won 3-1 to claim their second consecutive NCCAA National Championship.
 
The Warriors were honored with one PacWest All-Conference selection in 2024, senior Maddy Miller. Miller made history in 2024 when she became the first Jessup player to eclipse 1,000 kills in her career. Miller wrapped up the 2024 season with a PacWest-leading 422 kills.
 
More awards came with the release of the CSC Academic All-District team, as Miller was joined by Kenzie Carpenter, Neena Dimas, and Eliana Sheridan.
 
While the ending was not as picture-perfect as the Warriors had hoped, the 2024 season as a whole can be deemed as nothing short of a success. Year two in the PacWest awaits the Warriors this fall as Jessup will look to once again make noise across Division II.
 
Stay tuned to jessupathletics.com throughout the summer as more recaps from the 2024-25 season will be released. Tickets for the 2025 season will go on sale on August 1 and can be purchased HERE.
   
Jessup University is a provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).