HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston volleyball team is set to kick off its 2025 slate at home this weekend when it hosts the annual Bearkat Invitational at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. 

Six total matches are set for the event with four on Friday and two more on Saturday. The Kats will be joined by Tulane, Southern Illinois and McNeese in the event.  

Sam Houston will open the weekend at 10:00 a.m. on Friday vs Southern Illinois. The Kats will battle McNeese on Friday afternoon before closing the weekend out with a noon clash on Saturday vs Tulane.  

Brenda Gray is back for her 42nd year leading the Bearkats and enters 2025 with 776 career victories, the fourth most of all active coaches in the country. The Kats increased their CUSA win total by seven victories in their second year in the league and with nine returners back, led by senior setter Avery Fowler, that number could rise again in 2025. 

In addition to Fowler, who comes in with over 2,000 career assists in three seasons as a Kat, returning middle blockers Chelsea Butler and Rachelle Reed are expected to take on more prominent roles in 2025 while Michaela Panekova is back after averaging nearly two kills per set as a sophomore in 2024.  

Others to keep an eye on include sophomore Shaelin White, who is expected to take on the libero jersey after the departure of 5-year starter and all-time digs leader Hannah Baker, and graduate transfer Lauren Malone who already has 85 career matches at outside hitter for Coastal Carolina to her credit.