CHICAGO, Ill. — After a historic 2024 season that saw Chicago State University's women's volleyball team capture both the Northeast Conference (NEC) regular-season and tournament titles, the Cougars enter the 2025 campaign with a new leader at the helm and a refreshed roster.
First-year head coach Kamille Jones takes over the program, bringing energy, vision, and a proven track record of building competitive, high-character teams.
Jones joins CSU after a successful four-year tenure at the University of Illinois Springfield, where she orchestrated one of the top turnarounds in NCAA Division II, transforming the program from a 3-win team to a consistent conference contender. Now, she's ready to lead the Cougars into a new era.
"I am honored to come aboard at Chicago State," said Jones. "We're really excited for the season and have had a blast getting started and getting to know each other. The team has been working hard in the preseason to train and implement new systems. There's great energy and natural chemistry with this group. Even in the first week, it feels like a team that's played together for years—and that's simply exciting to be a part of. With several new faces, it will be interesting to see how that strong sense of unity transfers to the court. We're confident we can build on last year's success and compete at a high level."
The Cougars return key leadership in
Zeynep Ertam, a dynamic utility player who has emerged as a tone-setter on and off the court.
"Zeynep has shown very strong leadership skills from the day of her arrival," Jones said. "She loves the gym and is willing to step up wherever we need her. She's a strong utility player and a dependable offensive option for us going forward. You'll want to keep your eye on her this season."
Chicago State also welcomes three senior transfers who are expected to play significant roles in 2025:
Jocelyn Carter,
Nia Cummings, and
Leah Linares. All three bring valuable experience and leadership, providing immediate impact as the team opens its non-conference schedule against high-level competition.
"These veterans bring great experience that will be much needed for us to make an immediate impact in the early part of our season as we match up against many noteworthy programs," Jones added.
The Chicago State women's volleyball team was voted to a fourth place finish in the women's volleyball soccer preseason coaches' poll that was release by the NEC.
The Cougars' 2025 schedule includes 26 matches, featuring appearances in four challenging non-conference tournaments:
- Aug. 30–31 – Michigan State Tournament vs. Merrimack, Michigan State
- Sept. 4–5 – Wisconsin Tournament vs. Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Sept. 12–14 – UIC Tournament vs. Central Arkansas, UIC, DePaul
- Sept. 18–20 – Western Illinois Invitational vs. Western Illinois, Missouri, Valparaiso
NEC play opens on
September 26 against LIU, and the Cougars hosting
Central Connecticut State in their conference home opener on
October 3-4.
The 2025 roster showcases a dynamic blend of newcomers and experience, as Chicago State welcomes a talented class of freshmen alongside its veteran core.
"We're excited to welcome a vast mix of freshmen and transfers," Jones said. "Many have already shown great potential and fit well with our culture and playing style. It's clear that our freshmen and senior upperclassmen alike will contribute significantly this season."
With a mix of returning standouts, impact newcomers, and a tested coaching staff, the Cougars aim to defend their NEC title and continue building a nationally competitive program.
