WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons saw 19 seniors participate in Senior Day ceremonies last season, so the 2025 edition will be a retooled squad under 22nd year head coach Martin Ayin.
Last season saw the Falcons improve their win total by seven from the previous campaign, with this group aiming to take the team's progression even further.
"We made a significant jump from 2023 to last season — and we're not slowing down this year," said Ayin.
The top offensive player returning for the Falcons this season will be Sofia Mekelburg, who ranked third on the team in both kills (181) and kills per set (2.45) as a sophomore this past year.
Another intriguing returner is Maysen Bruschke, a right side transfer that was an imposing presence at the net with 68 kills and 10 block assists until an injury on Oct. 16 forced her to miss the rest of the season.
The Falcons' leading returner defensively is Tammy Melendez, a senior DS/L from Pelham, Ala. Melendez posted 186 digs last season and ranked third on the team with 2.33 digs per set.
Along with the returners, an obvious lynchpin to the success the Falcons hope to attain in 2025 will also be the development of multiple new additions to the program. Ayin has high hopes that the newcomers will have immediate impact on the court.
"With veterans like Sofia (Mekelburg) and Tammy (Melendez) setting the tone, along with instant-impact transfers that include Sutton Thompson, Emma Sargeant, Natalie Castillo and Jayde Gonzalez joining a fearless freshman crew led by Gabbie Taylor, Randi Reid and others, we'll be ready to compete this year," said Ayin.
The William Woods tournament on Aug. 21-22 in Fulton, Mo. will be the Falcons' first competition of the upcoming campaign. Following that will be matches against Arlington Baptist University and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis on Aug. 29 and then Baker University on Aug. 30 for the first home weekend of the season inside the Garvey Center.
The KCAC opener will be Sept. 27 at Bethany College, with the first home conference game set for Oct. 1 vs. the University of Saint Mary.
"We're built to attack a tough schedule head-on and this team's ready to make noise," said Ayin.
