HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston volleyball team will hit the road for the first time in 2025 this weekend when it heads to Nacogdoches to participate in the Stephen F. Austin Tournament at Shelton Gym. 

The Kats will take part in three of the six total matches set for the event where they will be joined by Louisiana, Abilene Christian and the host Ladyjacks.  

Sam Houston will start Friday at 11 a.m. against ACU and later close the day with a match against Louisiana at 7. The Bearkats then close the weekend by battling Piney Woods rival SFA at 2 p.m. on Saturday.  

Each match can be followed on Statbroadcast or by following @BearkatsVB on X and Instagram. The weekend finale against SFA can be watched live on ESPN+. 

The Kats are coming off a 1-2 weekend to open the season at the Bearkat Invitational, sandwiching a sweep of McNeese between a pair of heartbreaking 5-set losses to Southern Illinois and Tulane.  

Sam Houston dropped a hard-fought 3-1 match to rival SFA the last time the teams faced off early in 2024 in Huntsville. The rivalry began in 1980 with the Ladyjacks holding a slight 42-40 edge in the all-time series. 

Meanwhile, the Bearkats are 15-4 all-time against both Louisiana and ACU with SHSU last facing Louisiana in 2018 and ACU in 2022.