CONWAY - Fresh off a historic 2025 campaign, the Coastal Carolina beach volleyball program enters the new season with momentum, experience, and heightened expectations.
The Chanticleers captured the 2025 Sun Belt regular-season championship and finished with a 21–14 overall record, including a perfect 6–0 mark in conference play. Head coach Collin Wilson was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year, while Frida Meincke Lyø earned Freshman of the Year honors and, alongside Emma Kunaus, garnered First Team All-Sun Belt recognition. Although Coastal's season ended in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals, the foundation established last spring has the program poised for another strong run.
"We're really excited—it's fun to have a lot of returners," Wilson said.
Coastal returns 11 players from last year's championship roster, giving the Chanticleers valuable continuity as they prepare for a demanding schedule. The season opens in Florida with matches against defending conference champions Florida Atlantic and Boise State, part of an early stretch designed to challenge the group. Coastal will also host Cal Poly, a national title contender that could begin the year ranked among the top two teams in the country.
Wilson believes the returning pairs have already benefited from their shared experience.
"With everybody still together, we've maybe hit some of those bottom-outs a bit sooner in our training and don't have to deal with that in-season," he said.
Much of the spotlight will again fall on Kunaus and Meincke Lyø, who both competed internationally during the fall—Kunaus with Canada and Meincke Lyø with Denmark. Their growth has been evident in both communication and expanded versatility on the sand.
"The things that they're good at, they're really good at," Wilson said. "Now they've added some range to their game."
Elsewhere in the lineup, sophomore duo Kristýna Koblížková and Maya McNabney continue to mature after appearing in high-pressure matches last season. Anna Rita—who also competes in indoor volleyball—ranks among the team's top performers in conditioning. Ava Novello has returned with renewed energy, while Ella Wadsworth, Olivia Pippin, Karis Gordon, Jillian Stein, and Madeline Sigmon provide additional depth and experience.
The Chanticleers also welcome a promising freshman class highlighted by Courtney Burnham and Hailey Huff. After Coastal produced the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in each of the past two seasons, Wilson believes Burnham has the potential to extend that streak.
"She is an elite talent," Wilson said. "She's a super humble and smart kid but has so much room to grow. She's going to blow the doors off some people this year."
Despite last season's success, Wilson has emphasized growth over results throughout the preseason, intentionally creating pressure-filled situations in training to prepare for decisive conference moments.
"We know we're going to be good, but we want to keep trying to get better," he said. "One of the biggest things from last year is we know we can win those big games. Now it's about going out and doing it."
Entering his third season at the helm, Wilson credits his evolving communication style and the support of assistant coaches Shannon Stone and Chase Tsilimos for the program's continued rise.
With a competitive schedule and a veteran core leading the way, Coastal Carolina embraces both the challenge and the opportunity ahead.
"It's a whirlwind of a year—it'll be fun," Wilson said. "Cherish every moment, because this group will never be the same."
