Summer means the air is sticky, the days are long, and before you know it, the NCAA volleyball players are returning to campus to prepare for another upcoming competitive season.

The 2025-2026 transfer portal opened in late 2025 and saw some dramatic and unexpected moves from some of the college game’s top players. Here’s a roundup of the transfer portal action, focused on the five biggest names who transferred and the three schools that “won” the portal.

Suli Davis: BYU → SMU

The Big 12 Freshman of the Year is a native of Texas, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when she announced her intent to transfer back home. Her freshman year was full of accolades, including Second-Team All American, All-Big 12 First Team and 6x Big 12 Rookie of the Week. Her presence will give the SMU Mustangs the true superstar outside hitter they need to be true contenders this year.

Alexis Stucky: Florida → Penn State

The All-American setter has struggled with some injuries, but when she’s healthy, calling her an asset is a huge understatement. She fills Penn State’s big need at the setter position, and will be reunited with her former Florida teammate Kennedy Martin as she settles into her new home and team.

Izzy Starck: Penn State → Pitt

Starck’s choice to transfer to her inter-state rival surprised many. The onetime AVCA National Freshman of the Year helped Penn State win the National Championship. But something wasn’t right for her in College Park; after playing only four games last season, she stepped away to focus on her mental health. Now, she joins Olivia Babcock on a stacked Pitt team that wants to make a deep run this year.

Natalie Ring: Marquette → Texas

Natalie Ring was one of the best available setters in the transfer portal this year, so it’s no wonder she got scooped up so quickly by a team that has high hopes for its future. Ring, who earned All-American honors at Marquette and averaged 4.60 kills per set, will bring a competitive edge to the Longhorns

Jaela Auguste: Florida → Wisconsin

Though Auguste wasn’t the first name to jump off the page in the transfer portal, she was undoubtedly the best middle blocker available. The former All-American at Florida will help Wisconsin regroup after the Badgers lost both Carter Booth and Alicia Andrew, two crucial middle blockers for the team.

Portal Winners

It’s hard to pick one specific team, but three programs made significant moves that are almost certain to elevate them when the season kicks off.

SMU

In addition to Suli Davis, the Mustangs added opposite hitter Gabi Placide from Ole MIss, setter Ava Sarafa from Kentucky, and defensive specialist/libero Victoria Harris from South Carolina. The way so much top SEC talent has coalesced inside SMU will be hard to ignore (and defeat) once the season kicks off.

Penn State

Though the Nittany Lions lost a top talent in Izzy Starck, they are poised to do just fine without her. The addition of Alexis Stucky, alongside middle blocker Ryla Jones from Pitt and outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein, addressed all their major roster concerns and make them, once again, an incredibly formidable program.

Texas A&M

The reigning champions have added Natalie Ring, alongside a few other important portal nabs. Middle blockers Kaia Castle (from Ohio State) and.Eliza Sharp will keep the team competitive as they look to build off of a historic 2025 season.