The words “acta non verba,” tattooed on Weber State University’s volleyball coach Jeremiah Larsen’s bicep, translates to “actions, not words” in Latin. Last season, they served as the team’s rallying cry. After a tough first-round performance in the conference tournament, star player Dani Richins suggested that Larsen make the phrase permanent.
“To be honest, part of me thought, ‘there’s no way this is going to happen,” Larsen said. “We weren’t playing well, had key injuries and players were dealing with nagging ailments. I figured it was just too steep a challenge, but I said it with the idea that it probably wouldn’t happen.”
The Wildcats defied the odds. After two nail-biting five-set victories against regular-season champion Sacramento State and Montana State, they emerged as conference champions.
Heading into the new season, the Wildcats are fortunate to have multiple starters returning. However, they will be without two critical members of last year’s championship squad: Makayla Sorensen, the team’s starting libero and an All-Conference First Team selection, and Richins, one of the most accomplished players in both Weber State and Big Sky Conference history.
Richins, the conference’s all-time leader in aces and a former All-American, leaves a significant void in the lineup.
“There are some massive holes to fill, not just in terms of their volleyball skills, but also their leadership and presence as teammates,” Larsen said.
One player poised to step into a larger role is Kate Payne, formerly Kate Standifird. Over the past 12 months, she has led the Big Sky in assists, earned First Team All-Big Sky honors and helped secure a conference championship. As the longest-tenured player on the team, Payne has witnessed the Wildcats’ recent successes firsthand.
“We know we can handle tough challenges and always come out on top,” Payne said. “No matter what happens, we’ll push through and come out stronger on the other side.”
While the team has lost key players, they’ve also gained valuable assets. Weber State volleyball legend Rylin Roberts returned to Ogden in the spring as an assistant coach after playing two seasons of beach volleyball at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. This news thrilled Payne, who not only played alongside Roberts at Weber State but also grew up as her neighbor, playing volleyball and softball together at Lehi High School.
“She’s been a great asset to the team, and all the girls love having her around,” Payne said. “We’re excited to see what she can help us accomplish this year.”
The Wildcats will begin their title defense on Aug. 30 when they host a tournament with the Utah Tech Trailblazers and the Denver Pioneers.
