For recruiting and camp information please email jmuvolleyball@jmu.edu

COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS
» 3 Conference Championships (2016, 2017, 2022)
» 4 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2016, 2017, 2022, 2023)
» 4 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans
» 43 All-Conference Selections
» 4 Conference Player of the Year Selections
» Wininngest Coach in JMU History (295)

COACHING HONORS
» 5x Coach of the Year (2 Sun Belt, 3 CAA)
» 2009 AVCA 30-Under-30 Selection
» 7x VaSID Coach of the Year

Lauren Steinbrecher finished her 16th season as the head volleyball coach at James Madison in 2025.

During her tenure, Steinbrecher has accumulated 295 wins, 10 seasons with 20-plus wins, four conference championships (2016, 2017, 2022, 2023), and four All-Americans - elevating the James Madison program to new heights during her tenure.

In her 16 seasons, Steinbrecher has led JMU to 295 wins and has taken four teams to the Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship (2016, 2017, 2022, 2023) and won three conference tournament titles (2016, 2017, 2022).

The 2025 season saw the Dukes return to their winning ways, finishing with a record of 22-9 and winning the Sun Belt regular-season championship for the second time in four seasons. Steinbrecher was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year for the second time as well, taking home the honor after leading JMU to a 13-3 mark in conference play which included a 13-match winning streak.

Despite falling in the Sun Belt championship match to Arkansas State, JMU had a wildly successful 2025 season. Along with Steinbrecher's Coach of the Year nod, outside hitter Kennedy Louisell took home the Sun Belt Player of the Year award after leading the conference with 605 kills - also a JMU Division I single-season record.

As a team, JMU had the most kills (1,695), kills per set (13.45), assists (1,594), assists per set (12.65), and total blocks (325.5) in the Steinbrecher era in the 2025 season.

Joining Louisell on the All-Conference teams was Ayen Nhial (Second), Julia McNeley (Third), Ana Toumazatos (Third), and Addie Norman (Third). The five all-conference selections for the Dukes are the most in program history.

In her 16 seasons, Steinbrecher has posted 11 20-win seasons, 14 winning seasons, and boasts a win percentage of 65.7 percent.

In her tenure, she has coached 44 players to all-conference selections in the CAA and Sun Belt - including four players of the year - and produced the first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American in school history in 2016, when Janey Goodman was tabbed as an honorable mention selection. Since then, three more Dukes - M’Kaela White (2018), Sophie Davis (2023), and Kennedy Louisell (2025) have gone on to earn honorable mention selections from the organization.

After leading the Dukes in a transition from the CAA to the Sun Belt in 2022, Steinbrecher led the program to new heights in 2022-23. During that span, JMU went 45-15 (.750) overall and made two appearances in the Division I Women's Volleyball Championship. In 2023, the Dukes knocked off then No. 22 Western Kentucky in three sets for the first win over a ranked opponent in school history. JMU also took two sets off No. 6 Oregon and a set from No. 14 Penn State, finishing the season 21-10 (12-4) and the first at-large selection in program history, earning a No. 7 seed in the bracket.

JMU received votes in the AVCA poll for 10 weeks throughout the 2023 season, peaking at 40 votes in week eight - the second team out of the poll. After falling in four sets to Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Championship, the Dukes still earned the No. 7 seed in the Lexington Regional of the NCAA Championship, where they fell to Baylor in three.

In the team's first season in the Sun Belt in 2022, Steinbrecher led the Dukes to a record of 24-5 (.828), the most successful season since 1999. In conference play, the Dukes went 15-1 and won the regular season title. The team went on to win the Sun Belt Championship and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, the first time since 2017. Steinbrecher was named the Sun Belt's Coach of the Year and coached Sophie Davis to the Defensive Player of the Year award. Miëtte Veldman and Davis each picked up AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention recognition, and both made First Team All-Conference. Caroline Dozier also picked up Second Team honors.

In 2024, JMU battled injuries throughout the season and slipped to a 11-16 record. Brenya Reid was named First Team All-Sun Belt after leading the Dukes in kills (331) and kills per set (4.47), while Annie Smith was named Second Team All-Sun Belt after leading JMU in hitting percentage (.318) and total blocks (104.0). The Dukes defeated three teams who reached the Division I Women's Volleyball Championship: Delaware State (3-0), High Point (3-2), and Western Michigan (3-1).

Steinbrecher guided the Dukes to a 17-7 (.708) season in 2021, the fifth consecutive season the Dukes finished a season above a .700 winning percentage. JMU did not lose consecutive matches at any point for the second straight year. The team's play on the court led to Steinbrecher being named VaSID Coach of the Year for the second straight time. Miëtte Veldman and Sophia Davis each picked up All-CAA and All-Region recognition, including Veldman being named the league's Player of the Year. Veldman was also named VaSID Player of the Year, while Davis (First Team), Caroline Dozier (Second Team) and Savannah Marshall (Second Team) also received VaSID honors.

In 2020, Steinbrecher was named the CAA Coach of the Year and VaSID Coach of Year after guiding the Dukes to a record of 7-3 in the shorten season, helping them reach their seventh straight CAA semifinal match. Five Dukes earned All-CAA honors, while Miëtte Veldman earned CAA Rookie of the Year and was named the VaSID Rookie of the Year. Sophia Davis, Elizabeth Helmich and Savannah Marshall also earned VaSID All-State honors under Coach Steinbrecher's guidance.

In 2019 Steinbrecher led the Dukes to a record of 20-8 overall and 13-3 in Colonial Athletic Association play. She guided the team to the final round of the CAA Championship. Five Dukes earned All-CAA and four earned VaSID All-State honors. Freshman Sophie Davis was named VaSID Rookie of the Year and received AVCA All-Region honors.

Following a 22-7 season in 2018, Steinbrecher was named the Virginia Sports Information Directors Coach of the Year as she guided her team to a 13-3 conference record and a trip to the final round of the CAA Championship. Four Dukes earned All-CAA and VaSID All-State honors while M’Kaela White was an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention.

During Steinbrecher’s eighth season she led the Dukes to a historic 23-6 record, the most wins for the program since the 1999 season. The Dukes took home CAA tournament title for the second straight year – the second time this feat has been accomplished.

Steinbrecher was able to lead the Dukes to a dominant CAA tournament performance. The No. 3 Dukes took down No. 6 Elon in five sets, No. 2 Towson in straight sets and went on to beat the top-seeded College of Charleston in straight sets. With the CAA conference championship, James Madison earned the CAA’s bid into the NCAA tournament. The Dukes closed out the season with a first-round exit from the NCAA tournament with a loss to Colorado.

Steinbrecher coached four athletes to VaSID All-State Honors in 2017. Bryn Recker and White were named to the First Team, while Taylor Austin and Sarah Martin received Second Team nods.

In her seventh season leading the Dukes, Steinbrecher rallied JMU to an incredible turnaround season. After starting CAA play with a 3-5 mark, James Madison went undefeated in the final eight matches to win the regular-season title outright and finishing atop league standings for the second season straight season, marking the first time since 1998-99 that JMU has won back-to-back regular season titles.

Under her leadership, the top-seeded Dukes swept No. 5 Towson in Wilmington to advance to the CAA Championship match for the first time since 2002. JMU knocked off sixth-seeded Delaware in straight sets to win the conference championship for the first time since 2000, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Dukes closed the 2016 season falling to Coastal Carolina in five sets during the first round of the NCAA Tournament as the Dukes won their first NCAA Tournament set in program history. JMU finished the season with a 21-11 overall record for its third consecutive season winning at least 17 matches.

Rounding out the 2016 highlights, Steinbrecher coached Janey Goodman and Austin to major awards as the duo was named CAA and ECAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. Goodman, a candidate for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award, went on to receive AVCA honors being named to the East Coast All-Region and All-American Honorable Mention honors. Steinbrecher was named the VaSID Coach of the Year after the Dukes' 2016 success.

In her sixth season, Steinbrecher earned her 100th career win in a 3-1 victory over Northeastern on Oct. 9. With the program's best start since 1999 and claiming the regular season title, she was named the CAA Co-Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. Under her leadership, the top-seeded Dukes (12-4) hosted the CAA Volleyball Tournament for the first time since 2002. The Dukes finished the 2015 season reaching CAA Semifinals where they faced #5 Charleston. JMU finished the season with a 22-8 record highlighted by a 14-match win streak for the first time since 1987.

In 2014, the team advanced to its fourth semifinal round in the CAA tournament under Steinbrecher, finishing 8-8 in conference and 17-14 overall. Goodman, Lizzy Briones and Martha Stewart added to Steinbrecher’s All-CAA players list.

Under her tutelage, 15 Dukes have received all CAA honors, highlighted by first team honors for Lindsay Callahan (2010), Natalie Abel (2011) and Briones (2013). Abel also added VaSID State Player of the Year in 2011, becoming only the second player in JMU history to receive that honor. Danielle Erb was named All-CAA in all three seasons she played for Steinbrecher, becoming just the second player in school history to be named All-CAA four times.

Steinbrecher had immediate success in her first year with the Dukes, compiling a 22-8 overall record and a 10-4 mark in Colonial Athletic Association play. Her team garnered the second-seed in the CAA tournament, their first appearance since 2007. For her efforts, she was named the CAA co-Coach of the Year as well as the VaSID Coach of the Year.

The 2010 JMU volleyball team recorded the seventh-best winning percentage in school history (.733) and the fifth-best since moving to Division I in 1986. The Dukes were especially strong at home where they compiled a 13-1 mark, which tied for the second-best home mark in school history.

Steinbrecher also authored one of the best turnarounds in the nation, taking over a team that went 11-19 in 2009 and guiding them to an 11-win improvement in 2010. That +11 win differential was the sixth-best turnaround in the country while the .366 improvement in winning percentage was the fourth-best in the nation.

In her second season with the Dukes, she led the team to its second consecutive 20-win season, finishing 20-11 overall. It was the first time the team posted back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1999-2000. In CAA play, Madison went 8-6 and reached the CAA tournament semifinals for the second straight year. In the quarterfinals, JMU swept Georgia State 3-0 for its first win in the CAA tournament since 2007.

JMU's third year under Steinbrecher was marred by injuries, dropping it to 13-16 overall and 5-7 in the CAA. The season was highlighted by taking a set off then-16th-ranked and national quarterfinalist Minnesota. In the CAA Championship tournament, the Dukes rallied from a 2-0 deficit to upset third-ranked Northeastern, 3-2.

Steinbrecher advanced the Dukes to the CAA tournament for the fourth straight season in 2013 after going 8-6 in CAA play to finish tied for third. It was the first time JMU advanced to four consecutive league tournaments since the 1997 through 2000 timeframe. The Dukes finished the regular season by winning three straight against CAA foes and four of their last five, including completing season sweeps against Hofstra and William & Mary.

Identified in 2009 by the AVCA as one of the “30 best coaches in the country under the age of 30,” Steinbrecher came to JMU following three years as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Kentucky.

Steinbrecher joined UK head coach Craig Skinner’s staff in the spring of 2007 and made her impact immediately, helping the Wildcats to steady improvement in each season. After a 19-12 season in 2006 prior to her arrival, Kentucky went 22-10 in 2007 followed by 26-6 with a 17-3 mark in the Southeastern Conference in 2008.  In 2009, the Wildcats went 29-5 overall and 17-3 in the SEC. They advanced to the round-of-16 in the NCAA Championships and finished the year ranked 12th in the AVCA coaches poll. Steinbrecher's recruiting efforts included landing the 13th-rankedclass in the country in 2009.

Prior to her time at Kentucky, Steinbrecher competed professionally for one year in Almeria, Spain, after a stellar four-year collegiate career at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets reached the NCAA Tournament all four years of her career, including trips to the quarterfinals in 2003 and the round-of-16 in 2004.  Georgia Tech won a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championships (2003, 04) as well as the tournament championship in 2002.

Steinbrecher was an AVCA honorable mention All-American in 2003, named All-ACC in 2002 and 2003, and became one of just two players in Yellow Jacket history to earn ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2001. She was also ACC All-Tournament in 2003 and earned five other all-tournament accolades, including MVP of the 2003 Georgia Tech Invitational.

When she graduated, Steinbrecher ranked second in solo blocks (99), fifth in career kills (1,706), fifth in kills per set (3.60), eighth in total blocks (368) and ninth in block assists (269) on the Georgia Tech career charts. She also ranked fifth (541 in 2003) and eighth (506 in 2004) in season kill totals as well as second (38 in 2004) and fifth (34 in 2002) in season solo blocks. In 2002, she etched her name in the NCAA record books with the second-best hitting percentage in a match all-time, connecting on 17 kills in 18 swings for a .944 attack rate.

Also a stellar student, Steinbrecher was named to the ACC Honor Roll during each of her four years at Georgia Tech. She was honored as an ESPN The Magazine District III University Division Academic All-District performer in both 2003 and 2004, honoring academic and athletic excellence among all Division I volleyball players from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. She was also named Academic All-ACC in 2005 and was a Dean’s List student at GT.

Following the completion of her volleyball career with the 2004 season, Steinbrecher continued competition as a student-athlete by joining the Yellow Jacket’s women’s basketball squad for the remainder of the 2004-05 season and the 2005-06 campaign.

Steinbrecher earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management in December 2005. She is a native of Huntsville, Ala., and resides in Harrisonburg with her husband Casey and their two children, Luke and Grace.

Steinbrecher Year-By-Year

JMU Record

295-154 (.657) - 15 seasons

2010	22-8 (10-4, 2nd CAA)
2011	20-11 (8-6, t-4th CAA)
2012	13-16 (5-7, t-5th CAA)
2013	13-15 (8-6, t-3rd CAA)
2014	17-14 (8-8, t-5th CAA)
2015	22-8 (12-4, t-1st CAA)
2016	21-11 (11-5, 1st CAA) \| CAA Champions, NCAA 1st Round
2017	23-6 (11-5, 3rd CAA) \| CAA Champions, NCAA 1st Round
2018	22-7 (13-3, t-1st CAA)
2019	20-8 (13-3, 2nd CAA)
2020-21	7-3 (6-1, 1st CAA South)
2021	17-7 (11-5, t-2nd CAA)
2022	24-5 (15-1 Sun Belt, Regular Season champs) Sun Belt Champions, NCAA First Round
2023	21-10 (12-4 Sun Belt), NCAA First Round
2024	11-16 (6-10 Sun Belt)
2025	22-9 (13-3 Sun Belt), Sun Belt Regular-Season Champions

Steinbrecher Coaching Awards

2010	CAA Coach of the Year VaSID State Coach of the Year
2015	CAA Coach of the Year VaSID State Coach of the Year
2016	VaSID State Coach of the Year
2018	VaSID State Coach of the Year
2020-21	CAA Coach of the Year VaSID State Coach of the Year
2021	VaSID State Coach of the Year
2022	Sun Belt Coach of the Year VaSID State Coach of the Year
2025	Sun Belt Coach of the Year ECAC Coach of the Year

Steinbrecher Postseason, Team and Player Awards As Head Coach

Sun Belt Championships	1 (2022)
CAA Championships	2 (2016, 2017)
CAA Runner-up Finishes	2 (2018, 2019)
NCAA Berths	4 (2016, 2017, 2022, 2023)
AVCA All-Americans	3
AVCA All-Region	13
CAA Players of the Year	3
Sun Belt Player of the Year	1
Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year	1
CAA Defensive Specialist of the Year	1
CAA Rookie of the Year	1
All-Sun Belt Selections	12
All-CAA Selections	31
CAA All-Rookie Selections	10
VaSID State Players of the Year	5
VaSID State Rookie of the Year	2
VaSID All-State Selections	36
ECAC Offensive Players of the Year	1
ECAC Defensive Players of the Year	1
All-ECAC Selections	5
CoSIDA Academic All-District	4
VaSID Academic All-State	1

Image	#	Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown	High School	Previous
	1	Jaydyn Clemmer	Sr.	DS/L	5' 7''	Lexington, Va.	Rockbridge County
	2	Grace Wenrich	Jr.	S	5' 9''	Watkinsville, Ga.	Oconee County
	3	Olivia Vance	So.	OH	5' 11''	Bixby, Okla.	Bixby
	4	Sara Sykes	Fr.	DS	5' 2''	Gilbert, S.C.	Lexington High School
	5	Julia McNeley	Jr.	DS/L	5' 9''	Louisville, Ky.	Sacred Heart
	7	Emma Klanica	Sr.	OH/RS	6' 1''	West Chester, Pa.	West Chester Rustin
	9	Ayen Nhial	Fr.	MB	6' 2''	Louisville, Ky.	Seneca High School
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	10	Miëtte Veldman	5th	OH	5' 10''	Daleville, Va.	Lord Botetourt
	11	Sarah Schnell	Fr.	RS	6' 3''	Pembroke Pines, Fla.	Pembroke Pines Charter High School
	12	Rebecca Watkins	So.	S	6' 0''	Roswell, Ga.	Lassiter
	13	Savanah Cockrill	5th	MB	6' 0''	Centreville, Va.	Westfield
	14	Annie Smith	Sr.	MB	6' 1''	Jupiter, Fla.	The King's Academy
	16	Brenya Reid	Jr.	OH	5' 10''	Georgetown, Del.	Sussex Central
	17	Madilyn O'Toole	Sr.	DS/L	5' 8''	Louisville, Ky.	Assumption
	19	Jordan Smart	Fr.	S	5' 8''	Winston-Salem, N.C	Ronald Wilson High School
	20	Melisa Ilter	R-So.	RS	6' 4''	Bursa, Turkey		Indiana

Coaching Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Lauren Steinbrecher	Head Coach	jmuvolleyball@jmu.edu	540-568-6463
	Charlie Condron	Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator	condrocv@jmu.edu	540-568-2963
	Connor Wexter	Assistant Coach	wextercj@jmu.edu
	Emilee Furrow	Student Manager
	Carolyn Beran	Student Manager

Support Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Geoff Polglase	Sport Administrator	polglagh@jmu.edu	540-568-6164
	Christopher J Roth	Academic Advisor	roth2cj@jmu.edu	540-568-8174
	Lauren Roper	Athletic Trainer	sande2lm@jmu.edu	540-568-6562
	Hillary Stafford	Equipment Manager	staffoha@jmu.edu	540-568-3459
	Faith Buck	Sports Dietitian	buckfl@jmu.edu	540-568-5893
	Sarah Wimer	Administrative Assistant	wimerse@jmu.edu	540-568-2975
	Brett Beecham	Communications	beechabw@jmu.edu	540-568-6155
	Christian Carter	Strength & Conditioning	carte5cr@jmu.edu	540-568-7903
	Brandon Wimberly	Associate Director of Fan Engagement	wimberbj@jmu.edu	540-568-5649
	Sean Gordon	Duke Club	gordo4sa@jmu.edu	540-568-6365

Scoreboard

Calendar

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Loyola Maryland on August 28, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Loyola Maryland on August 29, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Volleyball at North Carolina on September 3, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Colorado State on September 5, 2026 at Noon

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Eastern Kentucky on September 10, 2026 at 3 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Volleyball at Western Kentucky on September 11, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Pepperdine on September 12, 2026 at Noon

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Delaware State vs. George Mason on September 18, 2026 at 3 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus UNCG on September 18, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus George Mason vs. UNCG on September 19, 2026 at 1 p.m.

James Madison University | Official Athletics Site

2024 Volleyball Roster

Jaydyn Clemmer

Grace Wenrich

Olivia Vance

Sara Sykes

Julia McNeley

Emma Klanica

Ayen Nhial

Miëtte Veldman

Sarah Schnell

Rebecca Watkins

Savanah Cockrill

Annie Smith

Brenya Reid

Madilyn O'Toole

Jordan Smart

Melisa Ilter

Lauren Steinbrecher

Charlie Condron

Connor Wexter

Emilee Furrow

Carolyn Beran

Geoff Polglase

Christopher J Roth

Lauren Roper

Hillary Stafford

Faith Buck

Sarah Wimer

Brett Beecham

Christian Carter

Brandon Wimberly

Sean Gordon