Comets Volleyball Shows Growth, Grit, and Promise in Year Two

The Comets finished the 2025 season with 23 wins, a four-match improvement from the year prior, and although they fell short of their conference goals, the year offered a glimpse of where this program is headed.

“We wanted to increase our win total, climb in the conference standings, and make the conference tournament again,” Durst said. “We did improve our wins, but missing out on the tournament and not finishing higher in the league was a major disappointment. We had opportunities. We just didn’t execute when it mattered.”

The sting of that finish, she believes, will fuel a motivated group of returners in 2026.

The Comets faced hurdles before the first serve of the season. A returning player expected to contribute heavily suffered a preseason injury, forcing early lineup adjustments. Midway through the season, a starting-caliber player went down - an absence that rippled through both performance and team momentum.

“That second injury really affected the team’s energy,” Durst said. “It hurt us in a couple of key matches right after it happened. But the group eventually settled into a new rhythm, and once they adjusted to the new rotation, they found their groove again.”

Durst’s personal year included its own massive milestone: welcoming a newborn in mid-July.

“Balancing motherhood with the grind of a college volleyball season was my biggest challenge,” she said. “It was wonderful - but definitely an adjustment.”

On the court, the challenge was youth.

With 9 of 11 rotation players being newcomers, the team had to learn a new system, new expectations, and the speed of college volleyball all at once. Growth was steady but nonlinear.
“There were learning curves and setbacks alongside the progress,” Durst noted. “But the group showed tremendous growth, and a lot of promise for next year.”

Few stories embodied growth like that of Paula Novo.

Last season, she spent most of the year as a serving specialist. Over the summer, she transformed her game - and by August, her hard work was unmistakable.

“She came back so much better,” Durst said. “She earned the libero spot early and even won our conference Athlete of the Week in September. Her improvement was remarkable.”

Another player who left a deep imprint was setter V Liufau, whom Durst describes as the team’s quiet heartbeat.

“Setters don’t always get the spotlight, but V makes everyone around her better,” Durst said. “She stays calm, brings this subtle energy, and she can score with her serve or with surprise attacks. She was our biggest impact player.”

The team’s Most Improved honor goes to Mia Ortiz, whose relentless work ethic paid off. After early struggles, she fought her way into the regular rotation and emerged as one of the team’s most dependable hitters.

“She became one of our go-to options when we needed to score,” Durst said. “Her growth was huge.”

One of Western Iowa Tech’s hallmarks across all sports is its multicultural roster. This season, the Comets navigated language barriers and varied cultural expressions of emotion on the court.
“There are always adjustments,” Durst said. “But this group was incredibly inclusive. Sometimes we slowed practice down to make sure everyone was on the same page, but in the end, volleyball is volleyball. They were all working toward the same goal.”

Understanding that some cultures display passion more intensely than others was part of the learning process - and ultimately strengthened team chemistry.

Building a program (almost) from scratch has reinforced one key truth for Durst: standards must be established early and clearly.

“There wasn’t a competitive history to compare to when I arrived,” she said. “So, we had to build the expectations from the ground up. I’ve learned to be a little more stern in certain areas, and we’ve adjusted our team standards as we’ve learned what works.”

While players shift their focus to academics and self-driven training until spring practices resume, Durst is fully engaged in recruiting - particularly targeting the 2026 class.

Next season, she expects the bar to rise again.

“The returners now understand the level, the expectations, and what success requires,” she said. “They’ll be expected to push themselves and welcome newcomers into a competitive environment every day.”

WITCC volleyball maintains a strong bond with its alumni, and Durst still hears from nearly every player from last season. Some returned to cheer on the Comets this fall - Maya Augustine and Cooper Champoux at NIACC, and Karen Bedoya at a home match.

Several former Comets are now thriving at four-year programs:

• Maya Augustine – Waldorf University
• Cooper Champoux – Waldorf University
• Kaira Willits – Western Colorado University
• Jagoda Szczepaniak – Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Karen Arredondo Bedoya – Missouri Valley College (beginning Fall 2025)

This year’s two sophomores are expected to move on as well, with their next destinations to be determined.

The 2025 season didn’t end where the Comets hoped, but the steps forward were unmistakable. With a roster loaded with young contributors, a culture strengthening by the month, and expectations rising, Coach Durst sees a bright future.

“This group grew so much,” she said. “They showed promise, resilience, and potential. I’m excited for next season.”

And with another year of experience and a hungry returning class, Western Iowa Tech volleyball looks poised to take the next step in its journey.