COSTA MESA- Much has changed in college athletics since 2017, both across the country and at Vanguard University. One thing, however, remains the same: Jennifer Dorn (JP) is still at the helm of Vanguard Women's Volleyball, as she enters her 10th season. The head coach of the Blue and Gold knows that she has seen and learned plenty.
"I think every season is such a learning curve, and I think the biggest thing is knowing that I have been through almost every situation," remarked Dorn.
Almost every situation.
Entering this milestone season as the bench boss, Dorn has a unique challenge of losing a senior class that won 83 games during their time, one five-year player who tallied 96 victories, and an all-time top-five player in kills and digs in program history. "Learning how to win is definitely a skill, and they won big games for us," relayed Dorn about that group.
The solution to replenishing the void of a victorious group? Investing in a plentiful freshman class, as VU's eight first-year players mark the most on a Lion squad in Dorn's tenure.
"At the end of the day, you can do your best to create pressure situations, but you cannot recreate that [pressure atmosphere]," admitted Dorn, who recognizes the challenge that comes with such an undertaking.
Three of the new faces feature at the pins, as VU welcomes Kate Duarte (OH), Meadow Hobbs (OH), and Cadence Roberts (OPP). When asked about Duarte, Dorn had to admit that even she has been taken aback by the freshman's coachability thus far. "I think she is an awesome athlete, but I am surprised by her mentality to learn. You can just see the wheels turning, and then 'oh okay, I will do that,'" recounted an excited JP.
Hobbs, meanwhile, is a "springy" athlete who has a great serve to pair with a solid all-around game that comes from a highly successful Arizona Sky Volleyball Academy system where she developed her trade. Roberts, who comes from the same club system, looks to bring her knack for getting the ball to the floor any which way, as evidenced by her 1,300 career kills in high school.
The other five debutants include Maddie Buchberger (MB), Emma Garrett (L), Haley Langdon (OPP), Mia Carr (L), and Georgia Sirard (S), with the theme for this incoming class being "depth" for Dorn. Not all new blood is straight out of high school, though, with Daphne Raymond venturing south from Ventura Community College after her Second Team All-Conference campaign with 174 kills in 2025.
"Daphne's been such a great fit...jumping right into our culture," stated Dorn. "She's surprised me with her mentality on defense. I'm also excited because putting her and Kayla [Robinson] together is a pretty big block. And having been a middle in her past, she is versed at coming in for quick attacks and being pretty creative in transition offense." Dorn also raved about Raymond's work ethic in the 'off-blocker' movement that the Vanguard system demands from its pins.
The aforementioned Kayla Robinson (MB, Second-Team All-Conference) returns after one of the best attacking seasons in Pacific West Conference history, as she finished just .014 points shy of resetting the single-season hitting percentage record.
"I am really excited for Kayla. She is so geared on finishing strong. She came back in great shape, hitting higher than she ever has, and she has a wealth of experience," remarked Dorn. She also pointed out the nuances of Robinson's lucrative hitting numbers, despite not always taking full advantage of her 6'5" stature.
"We are finally getting her at the height of her swing. I think that was kind of an issue in her first year or two. It's like we were not adjusting to where she was touching. And so last year we started realizing that and finally made the adjustments to really bring out her best, and that really showed. So, I think all of our setters are doing a really good job of thinking, 'I've got to set her basically a 1.5' because that's where she's hitting, and it's higher. So, that's really helping her."
Hopefully, having both of her primary setters coming back helps keep the cohesion offensively. Macy Kavanaugh and Julia Ringenberg enter another year with the Blue and Gold, with the former placing sixth in the PacWest in assists and leading her team in service aces. "Macy has so much knowledge and is a great leader who is not afraid to call out what we need to do. She runs the court well...her serve [is great] when she keeps that hand popped," said Dorn.
As for the other setter?
"Julia just played. As a freshman, you know, you do not get to do all the breakdown stuff. She did a great job... making little tweaks here and there. So now, over the offseason, we got to add the technical pieces in there."
Libero Kate Fagundes is another returner for VU, who JP praised for her "quickness to the floor." The El Dorado Hills-product posted a 3.41 digs per set rate in a dual role in 2025. An underrated player coming back this year is Abigayle Gotwals (OH), and JP is excited for what Gotwals' sophomore season could look like. "Abigail is bringing this sense of owning what she is doing. She came back the way you want a player to come back. She is bringing the heat in the gym." But there is a twist for the second-year player, as she won't be able to hide as an attacker in the upcoming campaign. "I think there is going to be a different kind of pressure on her without Morgan Cole's passing or [Viktoria Dickson's] defense. We have to step into those things and carry a different pressure than before, but I am confident that she is going to be able to do that."
Of course, there are not many players like Cole, who last year became just the fourth member of the 1,000-kill-1,000-dig club. But Gotwals clearly has a vote of confidence from the head coach.
Dorn was sure to mention a key battle to watch during the opening weeks of the season: the number two middle blocker spot behind Robinson. Kayla Henninger (MB) and Saniyah Neal (MB) have gone back-and-forth thus far, with JP hinting the role might be up for grabs for a longer period.
Sarah Wold (S) and Grace McQuoid (OH) saw very limited time on the court, while Haylee Long (OPP) missed the entire season. Dorn is eager to give an opportunity for all of them to find time on the floor this year, though she mentioned her excitement about McQuoid, who seems ready to launch in her third year in the program.
"I am excited about Grace. She had some health issues, but now she is jumping higher than ever, and she gets the system," said Dorn. Between her efforts, persona, and ability to "uphold the culture", McQuoid has been named one of the team's captains for the new season. And it is not just the captain, the returners, or the incoming teammates who have JP excited. It is the entire collective that is thrilling the skipper in her decade season at VU.
"I am floored by how our offseason is translating into our fall right now."
The hope is that this year's collection can translate preseason strides into a forward push up the Pacific West Conference standings. The 2025 squad got off to a blazing 9-1 start before ultimately finishing 18-8 overall and 6-6 in league action, netting the program a sixth-place result that equaled a two-spot improvement from the year prior. Another similar bound would be good enough to qualify for the PacWest Tournament November 13-14, which is being hosted by Vanguard this season. When asked if hosting adds any pressure to her group, youth and all, JP just shook her head.
"If anything, we get to use it as motivation, not pressure. Yes, it is cool, and we want to be there, but we have to do the process to get there. We need these girls to show up every time we have an opportunity. Blair Dodge was a gamer. Even with a rough practice, I knew she would show up big in the game. We need some of these girls to show that trait."
But if that trait shows up, the Blue and Gold were picked to finish sixth in the PacWest, which is not far from the coveted top four. And while JP has to trust her girls to game on the court, a new wrinkle adds another layer to that trust factor, as challenges are in the fold this year for volleyball. And while the coach has the final say on when to ask for the replay, she also needs her players to be sure they are confident when they appeal to her for the C sign.
"I am a bit old school," conceded Dorn when asked about what her philosophy may be with those challenges this year. "I think officials are going to miss calls, but we will see how it goes. I am sure it will help with the touches," JP joked before alluding to the infamous 'touchgate' from the Men's Volleyball National Tournament Quarterfinal between UCLA and UC Irvine.
The PacWest has a different look to it in 2026, as APU begins its NCAA Division III venture and both Menlo and title-contenders Fresno Pacific joined the California Collegiate Athletic Association. In addition, VU's third year in the PacWest brings its third type of league schedule, as every team plays countable home and away matches with every school in the conference. Dorn expressed favor for the new layout, as last year VU fell victim on three occasions to beating a PacWest opponent in the non-conference tilt, only to lose to that school in the game that counted towards the standings.
Amidst all the newness that this August has brough, the first opportunity to put it all together will be in at CSU San Bernardino for the Coyote Classic, where Vanguard takes on Cal Poly Pomona on August 27 at 12:00 p.m. for the first of four matches over three days. Then comes the home opener on September 4 at 3:00pm in the Freed Center for Leadership and Service, as Menlo takes on VU as part of the Orange County Classic put on by Vanguard and CUI. After that, the race to be apart of the PacWest Tournament commences on the road at Jessup on September 11. Get ready to follow the Lions during JP's decade season.
