Building Championship Culture – NAIA Women’s Volleyball Notebook #3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Since NAIA Women’s Volleyball started in 1980, nearly every decade, except 2010-2020, there has been a back-to-back-to-back champion. Indiana Wesleyan became the fourth team to accomplish this feat after winning the 2023, 24 and 25 Red Banners.

Former members, Hawaii-Hilo (1981-1984), Brigham Young-Hawaii (1994-1997) and Fresno Pacific (Calif.) (2007-2010) are the three other teams that preceded Indiana Wesleyan in this historical accomplishment. Those three teams have not only won three titles in a row but four.

This feat happens so rarely that it makes one wonder what kind of foundation it takes to build a championship culture and become that team. That’s what we asked Indiana Wesleyan Head Coach Candace Moats as the team opens the 2026 season on the heels of their third consecutive title.

The process of building their team culture starts for Coach Moats during recruiting, ensuring that character, work ethic, competitiveness and team-first mindset aligns with the current team’s culture. “We are a Christian university, so [recruits] wanting that kind of environment is very important,” said Moats. “I look for athletes who want more in their lives than just winning championships. Everyone comes to college with some expectations of lifestyle.  I want to make sure that their lifestyle commitments to a Christian university are what they want to experience.”

The Indiana Wesleyan women’s volleyball program is built on discipline, trust in each other, positive energy and a team-first commitment to pursuing excellence together with an emphasis on valuing accountability, respect, trust in the process and competitive excellence.

Building a solid team foundation is not limited to skills and volleyball strategy for the Wildcats, as the team looks to celebrate each other off the court and to dedicate time to reflection and prayer together. “We do not define ourselves as individuals or as a team based on results,” said Coach Moats. “We talk about who we are as God’s kids and that stays consistent whether we win or lose. We care about each other’s success and growth.  You will often find [in our gym] that an athlete would rather make their teammate look better than gain praise for themselves.”

Indiana Wesleyan’s first Red Banner came on the back of an undefeated, 38-0, season in 2023.  The 2024 season garnered only two losses within the first five matches of the season before the team went on a 34-match win streak that nearly ended in a loss to Bellevue (Neb.) during the fifth set in the championship match before freshman Autumn Colehour stepped up to the service line at 14-8. IWU was just one mistake away from becoming the 2025 runners-up when the Wildcats went on an eight-point run to win their second title.

It was year three that presented more challenges than the two before. The season started off with an injury report as the team tried to figure out how to move forward. “Our biggest test was in 2025 when our Player of the Year, Eva Joldersma, got injured, and we did not think she would be able to return to volleyball.  We had to accept the situation, especially when our friend was hurting and we were struggling with our play,” said Moats. “Our individual roles were different; players were doubting themselves and each other, and we felt lost.  We had to sit in the difficulty and work toward realizing that culture is not defined by how we act when winning is easy, but by how we respond when adversity tests our commitment to each other, the Lord and our program.”

The Wildcats played for about a month and a half of their regular season without a key player. Reflecting on that time, Coach Moats said, “We became a stronger team as we worked without her and when she returned, we were at another level.”

The Wildcats are the second team to accomplish winning three consecutive titles fully in the rally-scoring era, with each set being won at 25 points (excluding fifth set). Fresno Pacific won all four of their titles in the rally scoring era (starting in 2001), but only the last three title were after the change to 25 points, where as the first title, each set was played to 30 points. Hawaii-Hilo and Brigham Young-Hawaii won their four titles in side-out scoring with each set being won at 15 points.

“Winning championships creates a new set of challenges because success tests culture differently than adversity does.  We talk about complacency and managing expectations, especially in rebuilding years,” said Moats. “The external noise, where everyone wants to know if we are heading towards a four-peat and is commenting on our results.  We need to keep focused on ourselves and not get caught up in others’ voices.  Some of the other challenges can come with individual agendas where they had success in past years and now working with new faces, new setters, etc. it can be difficult, and focus cannot be on self.  For us, the focus in preseason is to stick together.  Do not let fear of failure enter the team, so that we do not play out of fear but with joy.”

If Indiana Wesleyan were to win the 2026 Red Banner, the team would make history and become the only team to win four consecutive titles in the rally-scoring era, with each set won at 25 points (excluding the 5^th set).

Entering the 2026 season with the last three Red Banners in their wake, IWU is focused on the process, keeping effort, communication, discipline and next-point mentality at the forefront, as results provide direction for their continued growth. 

During preseason, Coach Moats set the stage for the year with a focus on gratitude, which is now featured on the team’s practice shirts.

“We are currently in a rebuilding year,” said Moats. “We are moving forward this year with thankfulness, humility, and gratefulness for what God has allowed us to experience in these last three years.  Wins do not define who we are as a team, coach, or athlete, so we run the race with a positive attitude, believing in each other and getting better in every match and practice.”

Indiana Wesleyan opened the season tied for third in the Top 25 Coaches’ Poll and hold a record of 6-2 overall as the Wildcats work toward a fourth Red Banner.

Not being ranked No. 1 has made little difference to IWU, as the team hovered around the Top 10 over the last three seasons and began its road to its first Red Banner at No. 16 in the 2023 preseason rating. Indiana Wesleyan has been ranked No. 1 five times in the team’s history. All three of them came during the years that they won a Red Banner. Four of them came as bookends to the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

“Rankings really are never talked about [in our gym],” said Moats. “In the end, we strive to be the best version of ourselves while representing joy, humility, character, and honoring the Lord.”

But success isn’t limited to wins on the scoreboard and Red Banners hanging on the wall at Indiana Wesleyan. Success is also defined by the athletes adopting the program’s values and carrying them into every part of their lives, even after they graduate.

“Our athletes leave with high character, lifelong friendships and leadership skills,” said Moats. “The most important value is their growth in their relationship with the Lord and carrying that into their lives to be world changers in their careers and relationships. Our Alums carry belief in themselves, pursuit of excellence, and trust in the importance of building a community of support.  They have formed a bond that will always go with them.  The most important lesson is you need others to be your best self!”

Indiana Wesleyan has 23 more regular-season matches and will take the court again on Friday, Aug. 28, to face Columbia (Mo.) on a neutral court in Seward, Neb. Stay tuned to the rest of the Wildcats season HERE

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