HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston volleyball team will return to the friendly confines of Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum this week when it hosts five matches over three days at the Bearkat Classic, starting Thursday evening vs HCU. 

A full schedule for the Bearkat Classic can be found HERE. The Bearkats will open the week with a 6:00 p.m. first serve on Thursday night. They will then battle Georgia State on Friday and ULM on Saturday. The semi-round robin tournament will see each team battle the entire field with the exception of Sun Belt Conference rivals ULM and Georgia State. 

Sam Houston's matches vs both GSU and ULM are set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.  

Each match can be followed on Statbroadcast or by following @BearkatsVB on X and Instagram. Thursday's match vs HCU can be watched live on ESPN+ with Collin Neill on the call. 

The Kats (6-4) enter the week on a hot streak, having won four of their last five matches, including two of three last weekend at the Islanders Classic in Corpus Christi. Chloe Monson turned in a monster week for Kats with 81 total kills over four total matches, averaging 4.50 kills per set and hitting .243 for the week.  

She currently leads all of CUSA with an average of 4.00 kills per set, and along with sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Butler, was named to the all-tournament team at the Islanders Classic.  

HCU opened the season with five straight losses, but has since responded with five straight wins to enter Thursday night with an even mark. They have dropped seven straight matches to the Kats, not having won over Sam Houston since 2016. 

Georgia State enters the week with a 7-2 mark and will be taking on the Kats for just the second time, having been swept by SHSU in Atlanta in 2018 in the team's only previous meeting. The Kats hold a commanding 35-0 all-time mark over ULM, who enters the week with an 8-4 record as the Warhawks pursue their first winning season since 1989.