From an NCAA playoff appearance to a second consecutive Midwest Conference tournament qualification, the Fighting Scots had much to tout in their 2025 fall rotation. As the new fall season begins to take off for Monmouth College athletics, it is time to look at what each team looks to accomplish in the months to come.
Volleyball
Coming off a 12-14 overall record and 6-2 conference record from last season, the Fighting Scots volleyball team looks to build off their triumphs from the previous season, including their second consecutive Midwest Conference tournament appearance. The 2025 campaign ended with a 3-0 semifinal loss to Lawrence University.
The Scots return many power players both offensively and defensively. On the offensive end, Junior Kaylee Celus led the team in points last season with 397 and kills with 334. Senior Zoe Nizzia, who had the third most assists for the Scots in the 2025 season with 79, also makes her way back to Glennie Gymnasium. In the 2026 campaign, Celus currently leads the squad with 37 kills, followed by freshman Bri Woodard and junior Chloe Strachan with 24.
On the defensive end, Nizzia also led the Scots in digs with 394, followed by Celus with 266. Additionally, Celus and Strachan have tallied eight blocks so far in the 2026 campaign.
The team will play their first home match on Tuesday, September 15 vs Augustana College at 7 p.m., and will return to Glennie Gymnasium again on September 29 vs Coe College at 7 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
The Fighting Scots men’s soccer team looks to take care of of unfinished business from last season. In 2025, the Scots had a record of 3-9-3 overall with a conference record of 0-7-1. This season, any and all conference wins would be a pickup for the boys in red and white.
On the offensive side, senior Owen Murray returns for his final season with Monmouth Men’s Soccer, hoping to make one final statement over these next few months. Last season, Murray led the team in goals, assists, and shots.
The Scots also feature a new face defending the goal this season: freshman Calvin Cotton, who has totaled 16 saves so far in his tenure with the team.
Men’s soccer will return home and open conference play against the Grinnell Pioneers on Saturday, September 19 at 11 a.m. to kick off a men-women doubleheader.
Women’s Soccer
Like their male counterparts, The women’s soccer team is hungry for their own reasons, including a possible Midwest Conference tournament appearance. The team fell just short of qualifying in 2025 after a loss to the undefeated Lake Forest and unfavorable results elsewhere. The 2025 campaign ended with a 7-6-3 overall and 3-3-2 conference record.
This fall, the Scots return four top goal scorers from last season: Morgan Kistler), Mariah Hobson, Kiersten Medinger, and Natalie Morrow. In the current campaign, Hobson is tied with freshman Sophie Haynes with two goals apiece.
Their first game will be at Peacock Park on Wednesday, September 16, for a 5 p.m. kickoff with the Millikin Big Blue before opening conference play at home on September 19 versus the Grinnell Pioneers.
Men’s/Women’s Cross Country
The Fighting Scot look to be even faster than they were last fall and climb up the ladder in the conference standings.
In the most recent Les Duke Invitational at Grinnell College, the men were led by senior Xander Stoub, who ran 27:46.2 to place 18th overall.
On the women’s side, Melissa Bivolarov led the Scots with a time of 26:31.3 and placed 45th overall. The team will travel to Pella, Iowa, for the annual Central College Dutch Open on Friday, September 25.
Football
The Fighting Scot football team has a lot of success to build on from last season, having qualified for the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2019. Even with the loss to St. John’s last November, the Scots return key faces and add some new faces to the 2026 roster.
Nate Wrublik returns to the squad, having rushed for 794 yards last season. At the quarterback position, Silas Braun fills in for recently graduated Brayden Deem. This season, Braun has thrown for 178 yards and two touchdowns and looks to improve on those numbers as the season continues.
When it comes to receivers, Chase Newman returns, having led the team last year in receiving touchdowns and yards. He has two touchdowns to his name already in the present campaign.
On the defensive end, Kaden Foglesong earned two sacks for a loss of 14 yards, earning him a spot on D3football.com’s team of the week and the title of Midwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
The Scots open conference play next Saturday in Mount Vernon, Iowa, against the Cornell Rams with kickoff at 1 p.m. before returning home to play the Redhawks of Ripon College the following Saturday. Kickoff against Ripon on September 26 is scheduled for 1 p.m.
