LAREDO, Texas – A new season brings a new identity for the Texas A&M International University volleyball program.
After finishing the 2025 campaign 5-21 overall and 3-14 in Lone Star Conference play, head coach Tammie Jimenez and the Dustdevils enter 2026 with a dramatically different roster. Just three players return from last year's team as TAMIU welcomes a collection of freshmen and transfers tasked with building chemistry and establishing a new identity.
"This is an entirely new team," Jimenez said. "We underwent a complete transformation of our roster, returning just three players from the 2025 season. With a team comprised primarily of freshmen and transfers, we recognize that this season will come with challenges as we build chemistry, establish our identity, and grow together."
Those three returners are senior outside hitter Mia Molina, junior defensive specialist/libero Mia Perez and sophomore outside hitter Sierra Sanchez.
Molina provides the Dustdevils with their most experienced returning offensive weapon after leading TAMIU with 236 kills and 2.95 kills per set in 2025. The Laredo native also contributed 243 digs, averaging 3.04 per set, and finished the year with 253.5 points.
Sanchez also returns after making an impact during her freshman campaign. The Laredo native totaled 131 kills across 58 sets, averaging 2.26 kills per set, while recording 200 digs at a rate of 3.45 per set and adding 15 service aces. Perez rounds out the returning trio after seeing limited action in three sets last season.
Around that returning foundation, Jimenez and her staff have assembled a roster featuring players from across Texas, the United States and around the world. The new-look Dustdevils include transfers from Dallas College Eastfield, Cisco College, Tennessee State, UT Arlington, Stephens College, Northwestern Oklahoma State and Hartnell College, along with an extensive freshman class.
The roster also carries an international presence with newcomers from Italy, Brazil, Turkey and Poland.
Despite the turnover, Jimenez sees plenty of potential in what the group can become, particularly as the Dustdevils work to improve their offensive production while continuing to develop their defensive identity.
"At the same time, we are excited about the potential of this group," Jimenez said. "We have built a team that we believe will demonstrate greater offensive efficiency and execution while continuing to establish ourselves as a dominant defensive team."
Improving that efficiency will be an emphasis after TAMIU hit .136 and averaged 11.19 kills per set last season. The Dustdevils' opponents finished 2025 with a .238 hitting percentage and 13.08 kills per set.
Three newcomers expected to play significant roles in that transformation have already received recognition from the LSC, with Ece Özdemir, Kaylee Rodarte and Giulia Gainelli selected as TAMIU's preseason Players to Watch.
Özdemir, a senior outside/right-side hitter from Antalya, Turkey, arrives at TAMIU after three years of NCAA Division II experience. Jimenez expects the six-rotation player to provide another experienced presence for a roster learning to play together.
"A transfer senior with three years of NCAA Division II experience, Özdemir brings maturity, competitive composure, and consistency to the court," Jimenez said. "A steady six-rotation player with strong court awareness and an extensive offensive toolbox, she is expected to be a key contributor to the Dustdevils' offense and an important presence on both sides of the ball."
Rodarte joins the Dustdevils as a junior defensive specialist/libero from Dallas College Eastfield. Her experience within a two-time NJCAA national championship program could prove valuable as TAMIU works to establish the defensive mentality Jimenez wants from her team.
"She brings size and composure to the libero position, along with a relentless defensive mentality," Jimenez said. "Rodarte is expected to provide stability in the passing game while bringing energy and toughness to the Dustdevils' defense."
Gainelli, meanwhile, is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping TAMIU's new-look attack. The junior setter from Verona, Italy, comes to Laredo from Tennessee State after gaining playing experience at both the NAIA and NCAA Division I levels.
"A natural connector, she has the ability to create opportunities and put her hitters in positions to be successful," Jimenez said. "Gainelli will be a key piece in establishing the rhythm and identity of the Dustdevils' offense and is expected to be a driving force behind the team's attack."
The Dustdevils will have plenty of opportunities to develop that rhythm early.
TAMIU opens the season Aug. 28-29 with four matches at the Drury Invitational in Springfield, Missouri. The Dustdevils face Southern Nazarene and Newman on opening day before taking on Minot State and host Drury the following day.
The Dustdevils make their home debut Sept. 1 when they welcome Minnesota State Moorhead to the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building.
Another four-match road trip follows Sept. 4-5 at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where TAMIU will face Henderson State, Missouri S&T, West Alabama and LeMoyne-Owen.
TAMIU then returns to Laredo for the LSC Challenge, beginning Sept. 10 against Sul Ross State. Sul Ross State and Eastern New Mexico meet at TAMIU on Sept. 11 before the Dustdevils face Eastern New Mexico on Sept. 12.
The conference slate will test TAMIU throughout the fall, including road trips to Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M in September and St. Mary's and St. Edward's in October. The Dustdevils close the regular season at home Nov. 6-7 against UT Permian Basin and Angelo State.
Outside expectations entering the season are modest. TAMIU was selected 15th among the LSC's 18 teams in the conference preseason poll.
Inside the program, however, the focus isn't on where the Dustdevils have been picked to finish.
"We understand where we are positioned within the Lone Star Conference, but we are not discouraged by it," Jimenez said. "In fact, this team has embraced a 'dog mentality'—a mindset built on toughness, confidence, relentless work, and the belief that we have something to prove."
For a roster with 15 new faces and only three returning players, Jimenez understands that becoming the team she envisions will be a process. Rather than measuring the Dustdevils against preseason expectations, the focus will remain on what happens within the program as the season unfolds.
"But we are not focused on proving ourselves to anyone else," Jimenez said. "Our focus is internal. We are not playing the comparison game or measuring ourselves against what others expect of us. Our goal is to continue improving, developing our game, and discovering what this team can accomplish.
"It starts with us. If we commit to the work, embrace the challenges, and continue to grow together, we believe the respect we are seeking will follow."
A new team. A new identity. A new season. Be there Sept. 1 as the Dustdevils bring their "dog mentality" back to the KCB for the first time in 2026.
