We’re ready for the NIRA DI season to open and we’ve got some changes.

The big change is that Lindenwood, having moved to NCAA DI for women’s rugby in 2024, are in the schedule now, rounding out a DI conference of 11 teams.

That conference is made up of teams that are pursuing a 15s postseason. There are other teams pursuing a 7s postseason (even if they are also playing 15s during this fall), while there is also a combined DII/DIII postseason which will allow Bowdoin to play up a level and test themselves a bit more.

With the finals on the weekend before Thanksgiving, the teams have to start early, and this is the official opening weekend.

Now let’s take a look at the 15s DI:

Harvard

Repeat defending champs Harvard come in with many of the pieces that vaulted them to the title over Dartmouth. Head Coach Mel Denham has at her disposal and excellent backline featuring two-time Sorensen finalist Tiahna Padilla as well as 2024 Prusmack Award winner (7s player of the year) Cameron Fields, and try-scoring sensation Lennox London. 

Padilla, front-rower Charlotte Gilmour, and back-rower Nafi Fitisemanu will serve as captains. Eight freshmen come into the squad, with three of them from Canada and one from the UK. The four American HS products are Madelyn Hubbell from St. Joseph’s Academy in Cleveland, Cecilia Beauchamp from Play Rugby in New York, Sabine Fuchs from the Marin Highlanders, and Sana’a Lunon from State College and Doylestown.

Keys asks for them will be in the tight five where they do return 2nd-team all-NIRA lock Eva Rankin as well as Gilmour, who was outstanding in the final against Dartmouth. Prop Courtney Taylor out of Greer, SC also returns in the front row. But who will take control of the #2 jersey is a question.

Dartmouth

Runners-up the last two years, Dartmouth brings back several of those who won the CRAA Premier 7s. In that tournament Dartmouth displayed some admirable teamwork and work rate, and that’s what will be their calling card.

Up front the Big Green is powerful, and Sorensen finalist Cindy Taulava leads the way there as a No. 8 who can also play up front. The entirety of the front row that started the 2024 final returns in Leilah Bulabalavu, Vanessa Ortiz-Pallen, and Jordynn LeBeau, all US high school products. Outside backs are experienced with 7s maestro Katelyn Walker, Annie Henrich, and Paola Arredondo Almeida all exciting talents. The questions are: can Katja Crawford and Sadie Williams take over at lock? And, what will the halfback hinge look like? Possibly we’ll see senior Taylor Sadek take over at scrumhalf from the redoubtable Sadie Schier.

Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart has enjoyed movement up the ladder in NIRA and now face that climb without 2025 Prusmack Award winner Aly Cunningham, who was also a Sorensen candidate. No worries; the Pioneers return some excellent talent including Avonlea Wood out of Connecticut, and sisters Reece and Olivia Woods out of Idaho. Charlotte Dauser, Ashley Torres-Brown, and several other returners ensure an experienced forward pack.

And a strong 2024 freshman class is now a year older and likely ready to step in. 

SHU has experience in the backline, too, with Marley Gurmendi important at scrumhalf and Reese Torticill a force at center. 

Brown

Right on the cusp is Brown. They, too, have graduated some very accomplished seniors (Akilah Cathey, Nikki Lynch, Aziza Alford). Brown scored 66 tries last year and those three accounted for 27 of them. But coming through is an experience group who might not have received all-NIRA recognition, but they are smart team players and part of a potent attack that showed they could score against anyone.

They will look to the leadership group of lock Asha Davis, center Lily Nowak, center Kate Muldoon, and Brown 7s player of the year Laryssa Barbosa.

Army

Army brings in new Head Coach Jenn Salomon-Clayton and with that a new approach. Salomon-Clayton worked with the squad in the 7s season in the spring, so she’s familiar with the players. Alissa Eisenhart leads the team as a co-captain, along with front-rower Cecilia Olllis, and scrumhalf Marissa Wollbrinck.

TyraSoleil Ringdahl has emerged as a dangerous player with a high work rate and work rate will be a huge part of the Black Knights’ game. They don’t have overwhelming size, but they don’t give up or implode.

Quinnipiac

Quinnipiac graduated some key players and they have a young squad—about 60% of their roster is in their first two years of college. They open up against Dartmouth but that result may not be the true test of what they can do.