Photo by: Sally Deng/Northwestern Athletics
Transfer Bella Simkus to Join Northwestern Volleyball
5/1/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern Volleyball bolstered its roster for the upcoming 2025 season with the addition of Bella Simkus, head coach Tim Nollan announced Thursday. Simkus, a middle blocker, joins the 'Cats as a redshirt senior after four years with the Colorado Buffaloes.
"I'm so excited to welcome Bella to our family," said Nollan. "She has played in the Big 12 and competed at the highest levels. She is a force at the net both offensively and defensively and will bring great energy to our program."
Simkus was an integral part of the Buffaloes' 2024 squad, playing 108 sets across 30 matches. She contributed on both sides of the ball, finishing second on the team with a .349 hitting percentage and third on the team with 66 blocks (0.66 b/s). Her 83 kills (0.77 k/s) ranked fifth on Colorado's roster.
Simkus' solid redshirt junior campaign was highlighted by a career-high six-block performance against UC Irvine that helped secure a 3-2 win for Colorado on Sept. 13. Later that month, she set another career mark with nine kills in a 3-1 victory over Colorado State (Sept. 20). Over the course of the season, Simkus recorded a hitting percentage of .400 or higher in 14 matches, reaching the .600 threshold on six different occasions.
A native of Louisville, Colo., Simkus also excelled in the classroom during her time in Boulder. She joins Northwestern as a two-time member of the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, an honor she earned while studying architecture.
"I chose Northwestern because it offers an incredible opportunity to continue my volleyball career while pursuing my graduate studies at a world-class institution," said Simkus. "I admire the strong sense of chemistry and connection among the staff and team. I'm beyond excited to be part of such a special environment and I can't wait to contribute to it!"
Simkus is set to join Ayah Elnady and Beste Ayhan in Nollan's incoming transfer class next fall, along with Campbell Paris, who began work with the team in January.
"I'm so excited to welcome Bella to our family," said Nollan. "She has played in the Big 12 and competed at the highest levels. She is a force at the net both offensively and defensively and will bring great energy to our program."
Welcome to Northwestern, Bella ??
— Northwestern Volleyball (@NUVball) May 1, 2025
We're so excited for you to join the Wildcat family!#GoCats | @B1GVolleyball pic.twitter.com/47wPRZsNpV
Simkus was an integral part of the Buffaloes' 2024 squad, playing 108 sets across 30 matches. She contributed on both sides of the ball, finishing second on the team with a .349 hitting percentage and third on the team with 66 blocks (0.66 b/s). Her 83 kills (0.77 k/s) ranked fifth on Colorado's roster.
Simkus' solid redshirt junior campaign was highlighted by a career-high six-block performance against UC Irvine that helped secure a 3-2 win for Colorado on Sept. 13. Later that month, she set another career mark with nine kills in a 3-1 victory over Colorado State (Sept. 20). Over the course of the season, Simkus recorded a hitting percentage of .400 or higher in 14 matches, reaching the .600 threshold on six different occasions.
A native of Louisville, Colo., Simkus also excelled in the classroom during her time in Boulder. She joins Northwestern as a two-time member of the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, an honor she earned while studying architecture.
"I chose Northwestern because it offers an incredible opportunity to continue my volleyball career while pursuing my graduate studies at a world-class institution," said Simkus. "I admire the strong sense of chemistry and connection among the staff and team. I'm beyond excited to be part of such a special environment and I can't wait to contribute to it!"
Simkus is set to join Ayah Elnady and Beste Ayhan in Nollan's incoming transfer class next fall, along with Campbell Paris, who began work with the team in January.
Volleyball - Tim Nollan, Sienna Noordemeer, and Ayah Elnady at Big Ten Media Days (7/28/25)
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