Bergen and Raegen Reilly, Ally and Casey Batenhorst, and Other Sister Rivals in NCAA Volleyball Championships

After two thrilling months of Big Ten excitement, all eyes turned to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament as the top seeds were revealed. Pitt claimed the No. 1 spot, followed by the unstoppable Huskers at No. 2, Penn State at No. 3, and Louisville rounding off the top four. With the stage set, 64 teams are gearing up to battle across four adrenaline-packed regions. Pitt, the reigning No. 1, heads a powerhouse lineup featuring names like Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. Meanwhile, the No. 2 Huskers hold court in their region alongside Wisconsin, Arizona, and Baylor.

Penn State commands their home turf as the No. 3 seed, joined by Creighton, Texas, and Utah. Over in Louisville’s domain as the No. 4 seed, the energy is electric, with Stanford, Kansas, and Purdue adding to the fireworks. But amidst all the fierce rivalries and high-stakes matches, one thing stands out: sisterly love on the court and the family affair. The tournament boasts rival siblings who go head-to-head with everything they’ve got, blending competition with unshakable family bonds. Ready to meet the NCAA’s fiercest sister duos? Let’s dive in!

 NCAA Volleyball’s Sister Duo: Bergen and Raegen Reilly

Last month, in an electrifying matchup at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, the No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team swept the Illinois Fighting Illini in stunning fashion. Bergen Reilly was on fire, tallying 40 assists and 10 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. But the real magic of the night? She was facing off against her older sister, Raegen Reilly, a senior setter for Illinois. Growing up in South Dakota, the Reilly sisters always dreamed of moments like this. Now, they were sharing the court in front of 8,551 fans at a venue brimming with family memories.

Before the game, Bergen opened up about how much her big sister has shaped her journey, giving Raegen credit for so much of her success. And hearing those words hit Raegen right in the feels. “It made me feel very happy,” she shared. For Bergen, saying those words was just as special. The bond they share is pure magic, going beyond the volleyball court and showing just how much love and respect they have for each other. And guess what? The NCAA Volleyball Tournament is filled with more sister rivalries like theirs!

 Ally and Casey Batenhorst

Drumroll, please! The second set of sisters taking over the NCAA volleyball scene are none other than the Batenhorst sisters! On one side, we’ve got Ally Batenhorst, a pro with the Trojans, but now, she’s gearing up to head back to her roots in Nebraska. And on the other side, there’s Casey Batenhorst, the talented setter for SMU! As the youngest of the trio, Casey really felt the pressure to follow in the footsteps of her two older sisters. One of them, Dani, played as an outside hitter for Gonzaga.

“It was difficult,” Casey admitted back in 2020. “I felt since they were really good, then I needed to be, too, to finish the family tradition, in a sense. It was stressful, but I took it well. I worked really hard, because I knew I wanted to be a part of that and go to a school for volleyball like them.” And guess what? She’s definitely living up to that family legacy in a big way. But hold up, there are even more sister duos in the volleyball world coming up!

Becca and Bre Kelley

Next up in the NCAA volleyball sister duo lineup: Becca and Bre Kelley! First, there’s Bre, a redshirt junior at Pittsburgh. Fun fact: Pitt has been holding strong at the No. 1 spot throughout the Big Ten season, and that didn’t change when the NCAA Volleyball Tournament’s top four seeds were announced. This season, Bre earned the title of ACC Defensive Player of the Week, and last year, she made the 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team—a pretty solid track record, right? On the other hand, we have Becca, an outside hitter and redshirt freshman at TCU, carving out her own path in this exciting volleyball journey. Stay tuned—another sister duo is coming up next!

 Anjelina and Izzy Starck

The Starck sisters are bringing some serious sister power to the Penn State volleyball team, and they’re not just playing side by side—they’re totally vibing with each other on and off the court! Anjelina, a senior outside hitter, was a big-time recruit back in 2021, while her younger sister Izzy, a freshman setter, is already making waves as the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024. Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley put it perfectly, saying, “I don’t think there’s too many people that can say that they’ve played a college sport with their brother or sister,” and these two are doing just that. Having played together in high school, their chemistry is on point, and now they’re shining in the big leagues.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Izzy said, noting that playing at this level is way different from their high school days. With Izzy moving to college volleyball a little earlier than expected, their bond has only gotten stronger. The sisters hang out as much as they can outside of practice too. “We’ll have dinner…so I’ll go over to her house and she’ll make me dinner or I’ll make her dinner and it’s been super fun,” Anjelina shared. But it’s on the court where they really shine. The pair has connected for some awesome plays, with Izzy setting Anjelina up for 19 kills this season, and Anjelina digging balls to set up kills for Izzy.

 Nayelis and Naomi Cabello

Next up in the sister duo lineup for NCAA Volleyball are Nayelis and Naomi Cabello, and these two are bringing some serious volleyball heat! Nayelis, a freshman setter at Louisville, is rocking it at 6 feet tall and hailing from Clermont, Florida. She’s been a volleyball standout from the get-go, playing for East Ridge High School and earning All-American honors twice while also snagging an AAU runner-up spot in 2023. She even showed off her skills as the MVP at the Under Armour Next Selection Camp in 2022!

On the flip side, Naomi, her older sister, is a sophomore setter at Texas Longhorns. Back in 2020, she stepped up big time, playing in all 15 matches during the second half of the season, racking up 35 assists, a few blocks, digs, and even a kill! It’s clear that volleyball runs in the Cabello family! But hold up, as this list is just getting started!

Olivia, Amelia, and Virginia Van Der Werff

Hold up, the sisterhood just got even spicier! Now we’ve got not just a duo, but a full-on trio, all from different teams, making waves across the NCAA volleyball scene! First up, there’s Virginia Van Der Werff, a freshman at Texas A&M, who’s already got a championship pedigree. She led her high school team to three straight championship seasons, snatching league titles in 2020, 2021, and 2023, with a sweet State win in 2021. She wrapped up her high school career with over 250 kills and 100 digs—talk about setting the bar high!

Next in the mix is Olivia, a junior at Charleston who’s all about versatility, playing as both an outside hitter and middle blocker. She’s stacking up the honors, with the 2024 CAA Spring Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the 2024 CAA Champion, and solid stats in her junior season, including 5 kills, 1 block, and 3 digs in just six sets! Rounding out the trio is Amelia, a senior middle blocker at Utah, who’s been a force on the court all season. She’s made her mark with 26 matches under her belt, including a season-high 13 kills and a killer .650 hitting percentage against UCLA. These sisters are showing they’ve got the skills, the heart, and a lot of fire on the court for NCAA Volleyball.