BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL MEDIA DAYS

August 3, 2026

Tim Nollan

Drew Wright

Gigi Navarrete

Northwestern Wildcats

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We welcome in Northwestern. Coach, we'll hand the mic over to you.

TIM NOLLAN: Yeah, just like to welcome everyone today and thank the Big Ten for putting on this event. I think this Media Day highlights this conference and the institutions in it and what makes it so special. The Big Ten, hands down, the best conference in the country, the biggest investment in women's volleyball. I think the product that these institutions put on the floor is a good testament to that and a good reason why they should keep investing.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to questions.

Q. (No microphone.)

DREW WRIGHT: I would say it's so him. I would literally describe it with Tim Nollan.

GIGI NAVARRETE: I would say it really expresses his personality and just the fun vibes (smiling).

DREW WRIGHT: Great question (smiling).

Q. When we talk about the turnaround from last year, what do you most credit with having a turnaround like that that you want to see carried into this season?

TIM NOLLAN: I think the turnaround sparked from the buy-in of student-athletes like Gigi and Drew. Just really committing to playing what we deem now the Northwestern way, how we want to play volleyball systematically, defensively and offensively, understanding what we're trying to do, getting all closer on the same page. Developing skills. We want to be known as the best skill developers in the country. We want to train the best. We want to have the most improvement within our student-athletes. I think these two embody that.

Q. Gigi and Drew, when he talks about player development the Northwestern way, how does that fuel what you want to accomplish in the Big Ten this year?

DREW WRIGHT: I would say this off-season is a great example of that. We really have focused on defense and honing in on the small things, kind of just going back to the drawing board, really getting specific.

I'm hoping to see that translate this fall.

GIGI NAVARRETE: Yeah, just to add on, I think culture is a big thing here. We have been working on that in the summer, especially with our six new freshmen that we have. It's super exciting to get to see from where we are now to how we finish in the end.

Q. (No microphone.)

TIM NOLLAN: As a staff, we decided that Drew and Gigi would come with us today because they really embody what we're trying to build at Northwestern. They show up every day and work tirelessly at their craft. They compete with each other directly, but yet they support each other directly, which is amazing.

We couldn't think of a better duo to represent us here today.

The fact that there's both liberos is just icing on the cake. As with you, I think the libero does not get a lot of credit in our sport. Everybody likes to talk about the big 6'5" hitter that is making points. That doesn't happen unless Niki.

Q. (No microphone.)

TIM NOLLAN: I think it was a feature. I think our staff does a really good job of dissecting opponents and dissecting ourselves, quite honestly, and trying to find ways to score two more points.

If you watched us play, you'll know we're not afraid to try anything. We dual libero, we single libero, we dub subbed, we ran a 5-1. We'll do whatever we think gives us the best opportunity that night.

The best thing about our team, every night it might be a twist or tweak to that that might be a little bit different. We're okay with that. We're not stuck in this box of we only do X. We're willing to adapt, and I think we have the talent this year to continually adapt and make life tougher on our opponents.

Q. (No microphone.)

DREW WRIGHT: I think for me, it gives me an opportunity to be a selfless player, really support my players on and off the court. I take a lot of pride in being a rock for the girls who are making the big plays, doing the exciting stuff.

Yeah...

GIGI NAVARRETE: As a libero, we lead the back court, not just by digging the balls for the first contact, but also by using our voices.

Ever since I have been a libero, I know that talking and communicating just shows my personality, which makes me the most confident player I can be for my team.

Alongside with Drew's comment on being super selfless, I think what made us as a group, also as liberos, the best that we can is supporting each other and supporting those who actually can put the ball down. Just feeling that pride in they can do it, is that we actually were part of that.

Q. Drew, what's a different dynamic in being a tall libero?

DREW WRIGHT: For me, I played outside my whole high school career. I got to see the game on that side. I think that's really helped me as a libero kind of see it in a different light because I was a hitter for so long, I now know what hitters' tendencies are because I was one of them. The height thing doesn't really play a difference. The outside has definitely benefited how I play libero.

Q. (No microphone.)

GIGI NAVARRETE: I think one of my greatest strengths is the way I cheer others on. I think I come from a very supportive household, and that has made me be the supportive teammate that I am.

I think the biggest strength is just the support that I give others.

DREW WRIGHT: For me, I would say consistency of just being a steady presence for everybody on the court, showing up every day the best I possibly can.

Yeah, I think that also translates into how I play the game. It's very consistent.

Q. (No microphone.)

TIM NOLLAN: That's a good question.

We look at a couple different things. First and foremost is how competitive you are. How does that look for you. Does it mean you're running balls down off the court. Does it mean you're better in the clutch. But I think competitiveness is a really big piece of the puzzle for us.

Then we go on to what type of teammate are you. Are you making the person next to you better. Emanuel asked what they're special at. I think one of their great superpowers, both of these players up here, is that they make the person next to them on the court better. That is something we certainly look for in the recruiting process.

Q. (No microphone.)

DREW WRIGHT: I think we really rely on each other and we support each other. We know it's going to get hard and chaotic, but we know we can always fall back on each other.

I think Northwestern also does a good job of giving us the resources and support we need to succeed. We're very grateful for all the support we get.

GIGI NAVARRETE: Our schedules are also very tight. Just finding ways to also take care of ourselves in the little time that we have really helps our mental game and also just having something to lean on no matter what.

TIM NOLLAN: Our campus partners do a really good job of helping our student-athletes. We have an academic service department with our own academic advisor, DeAnthony, who does a good job scheduling tutors, mentors, learning specialists, making sure our students are staying on task and communicating with their professors.

Q. (No microphone.)

DREW WRIGHT: Yeah, I think that was a very special place. It really is my roots. It taught me how to be a competitor, how to compete.

I was just surrounded by the best of the best growing up playing volleyball. Me and Charlie have grown up together since we were probably eight or nine. We have played together on the beach, high school. We live maybe five-minute walk from each other.

Yeah, I just loved getting to watch her grow. I think it goes vice versa. We just are so proud of each other in a way. Yeah, Mira Costa was awesome. There's so much history, such a volleyball school, that it was great getting to play there.

Q. (No microphone.)

TIM NOLLAN: I think the biggest takeaway, what I didn't know or didn't necessarily expect, was the commitment the institutions have to each of their own programs, and the way they run home events is really first class.

Volleyball is volleyball. X's and O's, the players, but how events are run and the crowds and the excitement that the Big Ten has helped foster at each of those institutions for our sport has been incredible to now be part of and really experience.

Again, I think the Big Ten is pushing women's volleyball to new heights. I think each of the institutions are doing a really, really good job at following in these footsteps and pushing boundaries.

Q. (No microphone.)

TIM NOLLAN: It's a good question. I think we're going to have to do it by committee. Bella Bullington is going to have to step up and score some more points. I think our middle blockers are going to have to score some more points. I think we're going to have to continue to apply a lot of pressure from the service line.

Q. (No microphone.)

GIGI NAVARRETE: Yeah, I mean, McAuley has taught me so much about myself, not only from the volleyball standpoint, but just about who I am as a person. Coming from an all-girls high school, we have so much support for each other. That's where I really gained and built my confidence.

Being able to showcase myself at Northwestern with having all of the McAuley alumni and people who have supported me throughout it all is just such a full-circle moment, and it is really exciting.

Q. (No microphone.)

TIM NOLLAN: Well, I think in terms of how we construct the roster, it's not going to change our philosophy much. We still want to recruit elite high school talent. We want to invest in it and develop it. We're going to wait and see exactly how it shakes out. So many twists and turns down this ruling.

I think obviously at some point clocks are going to get longer and be five full years. I think every institution is going to take it a little bit differently.

For us, we're going to really evaluate and it find ways we can maximize the Northwestern athletic experience and put our program in a position to win.

GIGI NAVARRETE: Adding onto what Tim said about the twists and turns, there's a lot still going on. I'm more eager to learn about that rule. Excited to see where it takes us.

Q. (No microphone.)

TIM NOLLAN: Yeah, I'm really excited for the tournament. I think it's going to be an incredible TV event. I think it allows us to showcase the quality of the league. Taking 15 teams, giving some byes to protect the top seeds so they're not exhausted going into the NCAA tournament. I like the timing of it before Thanksgiving, before the draw.

I also like that it changed the regular season to a single round-robin. It's a balanced and equitable schedule to rank out for the tournament seeding.

To me it's a win-win. I think the Big Ten did a good job of listening to the coaches and implementing it for this fall, and I think the nature and structure of it is going to be first class.