By: Caroline Pease I Published: January 26, 2026
What started as a season with cautious expectations has turned into history for Kean University women’s volleyball. Tabbed as the NJAC’s dark horse in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Cougars capped off a dominant 2025 campaign by claiming the NJAC Championship with a 3-0 sweep of Stockton University Saturday night at Harwood Arena. Their success earned them an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, where they aimed to make an impact beyond conference play.
Kean entered the season ranked fourth in the NJAC, trailing preseason favorites Stockton and defending champion William Paterson. With veteran leaders like senior setter Aspen O’Brien and junior middle hitter Cayley Elena Morrison, as well as a talented freshman class led by outside hitter Ashley Torok, Kean had the talent, but proving it against the conference’s top programs was another matter.
“Last season’s team had just as much talent, but injuries and other setbacks kept us from coming together,” Head Coach Don Perkins said. “This year, the girls knew from the beginning that they had the ability to do this, but then you have to make it happen.”
The turning point came after an early-season loss to Stockton. While the Cougars’ offense performed well, Perkins identified defense as the key to victory. The team focused relentlessly on improving that area, and the results were evident in the NJAC title match, where Kean hit .372 while holding Stockton to a .000 attack percentage. Morrison led the way with 16 kills and four blocks, Torok added 15 kills and four digs, and O’Brien orchestrated the offense with 34 assists and four kills, hitting a perfect 1.000.
“The three of them have really been remarkably consistent and led the way this year,” Perkins said. “But it’s really one through sixteen. Every player stepped up when needed, and that’s the word: team.”
Their NJAC victory marked Kean’s first conference title since 2018 and propelled the Cougars into the NCAA Tournament. Kean faced Lasell University in the opening round where the Cougars notched the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory, sweping the Lasers 3-0. Kean would then bow out of national contention with a 3-1 loss to #14 Tufts University, 3-1. Morrison finished the match against the Jumbos with 16 kills and a .382 hitting percentage, Torok contributed 12 kills and 244 digs for the season, and O’Brien handed out 36 assists. Despite the early exit, the team gained invaluable experience and demonstrated that Kean could compete at the national level.
Along the way, the Cougars collected numerous individual honors that highlighted their historic season. O’Brien became the first player in program history to be named AVCA Region IV Player of the Year while also earning NJAC Player of the Year, a First Team All-Region nod, and Second Team All-American recognition. Torok was named AVCA Region IV Rookie of the Year, earned First Team All-Region honors, and received Honorable Mention All-American status, marking the first major awards for the freshman standout. Morrison solidified her status as one of the program’s elite performers, earning her third consecutive All-Region selection, a Second Team All-American nod, and being named NJAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, while also capturing First Team All-Conference honors for the third straight season. Libero Madeline Dohogne earned Honorable Mention All-Region recognition and her first All-NJAC nod, underscoring the depth and balance that made Kean’s team so formidable. Head Coach Don Perkins was named AVCA Region IV Coach of the Year, acknowledging his leadership in guiding the Cougars to a 29-5 record, the NJAC regular season and tournament titles, and their return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
Kean’s journey this season exemplifies the classic dark horse story: starting under the radar, improving steadily, and ultimately achieving success through focus, resilience, and teamwork. Perkins emphasized that their growth was both collective and continuous. “The first priority has been to have each other’s back and make sure the team came first,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kean returns several key contributors, including Morrison, Torok, Vic Latino, and Annabelle Valencia, ensuring that the program’s newfound momentum could continue in the coming years. “I’d like to make this an annual event,” Perkins said. “We have some really good players coming back, and I hope we can continue to compete at this level for years to come.”
Kean University’s 2025 women’s volleyball season proved that underdogs can rewrite history. From a preseason ranking as the NJAC’s dark horse to conference champions and NCAA competitors, the Cougars demonstrated that resilience, teamwork, and determination can overcome expectations. With a talented core returning next season, Kean has set a new standard for the program and shown that the dark horse doesn’t just compete; it can lead.
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