Women's Volleyball Names Team Captains Ahead of 2026 Season
July 14, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's volleyball has announced Nicole Feliciano, Kendra MacDonald, and Jessica Bates as team captains for the 2026 season.
Nicole Feliciano is in her fourth year at UCI. The 5-foot-10 setter/opposite has ranked among the top-10 in the Big West in assists in each of the last three seasons. She enters the 2026 campaign with 2,619 career assists. Feliciano, who is an Orange County native, was tabbed the 2023 Big West Freshman of the Year. She has also excelled in the classroom, earning Big West All-Academic and CSC Academic All-District recognition as an education major.
Kendra MacDonald is in her fifth year at UC Irvine. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter was leading the team with 2.18 kills per set when an injury cut her 2025 season short. In 2024, MacDonald averaged a career-best 2.41 kills and 1.81 digs per set. She reached double digits in kills 10 times with a career-high 20 at CSUN. MacDonald recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in education sciences and will be pursuing a master's degree in management.
Jessica Bates is in her third year as an Anteater. Bates has seen limited action due to injury, but showed the impact she can make with two triple-doubles in seven matches played last year. The 5-foot-11 setter/opposite totaled 13 kills, 11 assists, and 10 digs against Montana State before coming back a week later with career-highs of 19 kills, 14 assists, and 12 digs at Belmont. Bates hails from San Clemente, California, and is majoring in criminology, law & society.
UC Irvine will begin the 2026 season with a pair of home exhibition matches against USC (Aug. 15) and Concordia (Aug. 22). The 'Eaters officially start the campaign on the road at Washington on Aug. 28.
Nicole Feliciano is in her fourth year at UCI. The 5-foot-10 setter/opposite has ranked among the top-10 in the Big West in assists in each of the last three seasons. She enters the 2026 campaign with 2,619 career assists. Feliciano, who is an Orange County native, was tabbed the 2023 Big West Freshman of the Year. She has also excelled in the classroom, earning Big West All-Academic and CSC Academic All-District recognition as an education major.
Kendra MacDonald is in her fifth year at UC Irvine. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter was leading the team with 2.18 kills per set when an injury cut her 2025 season short. In 2024, MacDonald averaged a career-best 2.41 kills and 1.81 digs per set. She reached double digits in kills 10 times with a career-high 20 at CSUN. MacDonald recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in education sciences and will be pursuing a master's degree in management.
Jessica Bates is in her third year as an Anteater. Bates has seen limited action due to injury, but showed the impact she can make with two triple-doubles in seven matches played last year. The 5-foot-11 setter/opposite totaled 13 kills, 11 assists, and 10 digs against Montana State before coming back a week later with career-highs of 19 kills, 14 assists, and 12 digs at Belmont. Bates hails from San Clemente, California, and is majoring in criminology, law & society.
UC Irvine will begin the 2026 season with a pair of home exhibition matches against USC (Aug. 15) and Concordia (Aug. 22). The 'Eaters officially start the campaign on the road at Washington on Aug. 28.
Players Mentioned
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