When it comes to Western Michigan University volleyball, the past season is something to celebrate, but not dwell upon.

Actually, it was almost like two years of celebrating for the Broncos. In 2023, they went unbeaten in the regular season and won the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Then in 2024, they won the MAC Tournament for the second straight year, making it two straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Logan Case was named All-MAC First Team for the fifth straight season and Andelyn Simkins was the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

But the familiar names of Case, Simkins, Keona Salesman, Anna Calcagno, Julia Marr and Madison Merz have graduated.

"We're moving forward with this season's special group," head coach Colleen Munson, who enters her 21st season at the helm, said. "They have a very close, tight bond.

"We don't rebuild, we reload."

The reloading is coming from returning players – seniors Mary Clare Brusek, Amanda Glanton and Reeghan Boyer; redshirt junior Maddie Kmetz; sophomores Elana Erickson, Annalise Patchett and Carley Piercefield; and redshirt freshmen Leah Richmond and Camille Morrison.

The six newcomers are transfers senior Molly Brown, sophomore Ella Guilfoy and junior Lizzie MacIntosh; and incoming freshmen Keely Culler, Cassidy Pratley and Mia Jurkovic.

The Broncos (20-13 overall, 13-5 MAC in 2024) open the season on Friday, hosting the Western Michigan Tournament, playing Oakland on Friday night, Illinois State on Saturday and DePaul on Sunday.

It was different last spring when the Broncos came together for training and scrimmages and those familiar players were gone.

"The first practices were different, but the Western Michigan culture is we love the challenge, and we love the new people," Boyer said.

Added Brusek: "Last spring, we had time to prepare for life without them and they left us in such a good place. We're ready to show everyone we're a good team."

Opponents know the returners are pretty good, too. In a preseason vote, Brusek was named All-MAC, while the Broncos were picked to finish fourth in the league, behind Bowling Green, Ball State and Central Michigan.

"We focus on what we need to do," Brusek said. "We're confident in Bronco volleyball."

Among the returning players, Brusek, a middle blocker, was third on the team with 247 kills and hit .281. Piercefield had 262 digs and Boyer added 259 digs.

Richmond looks to be the starting setter.

"Leah has done a great job," Munson said. "She grew last year in the role she was in, which was to train alongside Logan and compete in practice, while noticing trends and tendencies as another set of eyes in matches."

As for the rest of the starting lineup, well, there are a lot of moving parts.

"We don't decide the starting lineup until the end of the week of practice," Munson said. "Then the beginning of the next week, it's a fresh start.

"We have multiple options because of how competitive we are and how they present themselves in every practice."

The seniors are ready for the leadership challenge, according to Boyer.

"I think this season is a good opportunity for the seniors to grow and learn how to lead," she said.