The College of Southern Idaho women’s volleyball team kicked off its 2026 preseason campaign Monday with a 3-2 scrimmage victory over Montana Western, giving head coach Andria Harshman her first extended look at what this year’s squad can do together on the court in Twin Falls.
A New Roster Takes Shape
For Harshman, the August 10 scrimmage came just two weeks after she saw the full 2026 roster assembled for the first time. Getting a group of players — many of them new to one another — to function as a cohesive unit in that short a window is no small task, making the preseason result an encouraging early sign for the program.
The Golden Eagles’ roster this season draws talent from around the world, reflecting the kind of international recruiting reach that junior college programs increasingly rely on to stay competitive. CSI welcomed players from Japan, Brazil, and the country of Georgia to the Magic Valley this year. Vivian Goto joins from Japan, while Isadora Bueno, Laura Grasel, and Julia Santana traveled from Brazil. Nana Lobzhanidze rounds out the international contingent, arriving from Georgia.
Alongside the international additions, the roster includes local and regional contributors: Brinley Bybee, Tesyn Stewart, Amanda Uren, and Jeslynn Furniss are among the domestic players suiting up for CSI this fall.
Early Test Against Montana Western
Preseason scrimmages rarely carry a final score that matters much in the record books, but the 3-2 result against Montana Western offered Harshman real game situations to evaluate her players under pressure. A five-set match — whether in the regular season or a preseason tune-up — demands both depth and mental toughness, two qualities that take time to develop in a roster assembled just weeks before competition begins.
CSI competes at the junior college level, where roster turnover is a constant reality and coaches often work with players who have never shared a practice floor before the season starts. Building chemistry across language and cultural barriers adds another layer of complexity to the coaching challenge Harshman faces heading into the 2026 campaign.
The College of Southern Idaho has long been a fixture in Magic Valley athletics, and the volleyball program’s ability to recruit internationally speaks to the school’s growing profile in collegiate sports. For students from Japan, Brazil, and Georgia, Twin Falls represents both an athletic opportunity and a significant life transition — a detail that coaches in these programs often cite as motivation for their players to perform.
What Comes Next
With the preseason scrimmage behind them, CSI’s women’s volleyball team will continue preparations ahead of the regular season. Harshman and her staff will use the remaining preseason window to refine rotations, establish serve-receive systems, and help international players adjust to the pace of American junior college competition. For a roster that had only been together for two weeks before facing Montana Western, the 3-2 win provides a foundation to build on as the Golden Eagles head toward their opening regular-season matches.
Fans in Twin Falls and across the Magic Valley who want to follow the team’s progress can watch for the official schedule release from College of Southern Idaho Athletics as the 2026 season gets underway. With a diverse and internationally flavored roster, this year’s CSI squad promises to be one worth watching throughout the fall.
For more coverage of Magic Valley prep and college sports, visit Idaho News for statewide athletics news.