DePaul volleyball head coach Marie Zidek and her staff made significant moves during the offseason, actively recruiting versatile and talented players to the team’s roster for the highly anticipated 2023 season.

With the majority of last year’s team set to return, the Blue Demons have focused on fortifying its squad, making only minor adjustments to the lineup. The result could be a formidable team boasting a wealth of experience. 

The Blue Demons experienced some growing pains after finishing last season with a 10-20 record, but the outlook for the 2023 season can not be ignored with the nucleus of returning athletes. 

“We are so proud of the group coming back and super excited to add these four incomers,” Zidek said. “Folding in these new additions should compound this program’s progress exponentially as we head into the fall, and we are eager to see what this group is capable of as one DePaul volleyball team.” 

The Blue Demons added four players from the class of 2023: defensive specialist and libero Nora Mannion from San Francisco; Yagmur Yavuz, an outside hitter from Turkey; Meghan Scholz, a middle blocker from Wisconsin; and graduate transfer Audrey Kemp from Loyola Marymount. 

These four add versatility for the team in 2023, with a chance to grow while watching and learning from the 13 on the team already.

“The 2023 incomers will add depth in playing pieces and competitive personalities that will help the returning group get back into the hunt for a postseason championship opportunity,” Zidek said. 

Headlining the class is Scholz. After a stellar career at Tomahawk High School and being named a three time All-Conference First Team member, Scholz registered over 1,000 career kills with 455 of which came in her senior year. She took her team with a 30-8 record to the regional championships. 

Yavuz, from Turkey, originally started her collegiate volleyball career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after redshirting her freshman season, giving her the full years of eligibility. 

Prior to her arrival in the U.S., Yavuz won three European Championships at the youth level and participated in the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival in Slovakia. 

“Yagmur brings seasoned volleyball experience from her development days in Turkey,” Zidek said. “She comes from a tremendous sporting family. What I am most excited about in Yami is her thirst to be great. She has all of the skills needed to be a high-level point scorer, and her passion for her own development and willingness to help the team is what is going to propel her there. I am thrilled to have Yami here already working with the team and am excited to help her rise to expectations.” 

Returning 13 players from last season brings depth along with experience that will be key for the Blue Demons to compete in the Big East and potentially the NCAA Tournament. 

Assistant head coach Maddie Beal said she’s excited for the direction the program is heading.

“You know, going into the fall, we’re feeling really good and we’re really excited to get our 2023 newcomer kids to join the team as well. 

As the 2023 season slowly nears, DePaul volleyball will look to emerge as a resolute force, and prove its worth on the court. With Zidek’s leadership, a cohesive blend of returning athletes, and fresh talent, the Blue Demons are prepared in its pursuit to make noise in the Big East. 

“It obviously wasn’t our best year going from fourth in the conference to not having your best season this past season in the fall,” junior libero Rachel Krasowski said. “But at the end of the day, I genuinely think it helped us just to be hungry for the spring season.”