Friday, August 28
Huntsville
1:00 PM
vs
Cal State Fullerton
Volleyball set to open 2026 season
8/26/2026 8:09:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston Bearkat volleyball team is set to open the 2026 season at home this weekend as Sam Houston hosts the annual Bearkat Invitational at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.Â
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The two-day tournament features six matches, with four matches scheduled for Friday and two on Saturday. Sam Houston will welcome McNeese, Miami (OH) and Cal State Fullerton to Huntsville for the season-opening tournament. Play kicks offÂ
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Play kicks off on Friday morning with McNeese taking on Miami, followed by the Bearkats' opener at 1 p.m. against Cal State Fullerton. They cap off the first day of competition with a 7:00 p.m. first serve vs Miami and wrap up the Invitational at 2:00 p.m. against McNeese.Â
Each of the three Bearkat matches is scheduled to air live on ESPN+ with Jason Metko calling the action on Friday and Jordan Smith taking the mic on Saturday. All matches of the weekend can be followed via Statbroadcast.
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Head coach Brenda Gray enters her 43rd season at the helm of the program, making her the longest-tenured head coach in the nation. She enters the year with 787 career victories to her credit and needs 13 this season to tally 800 for her career.
She will look to hit that mark with a roster whch features nine newcomers to the roster, including five freshmen and four transfers.Â
Among the key returners are Chloe Monson and Shaelin White. Monson was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team a year ago after finishing the year averaging 3.65 kills per set, a mark which ranked third overall in CUSA and tops among all league rookies. White, meanwhile, held down the back line with 4.16 digs per set for the season, a mark which also was third best in all of CUSA.
This year the Kats will also be looking to other returners such as middle blockers Chelsea Butler and Rachelle Reed, along with outside hitter Bella Wood to make impacts this year. Freshman setter Brenlin Garlitz and junior college transfer Lauren Pyle will likely take over running the offensive sets, while veteran East Texas A&M transfer Nevaeh Smith shoudl be looked at to have an impact at the net.
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Sam Houston enters the weekend with an all-time record of 2-0 against Cal State Fullerton, with the teams last meeting in 1995. The Bearkats are 0-1 all time against Miami, with the lone meeting coming in 2000. Sam Houston holds a 34-24 all-time record against McNeese, including a meeting in Huntsville last season.Â
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The two-day tournament features six matches, with four matches scheduled for Friday and two on Saturday. Sam Houston will welcome McNeese, Miami (OH) and Cal State Fullerton to Huntsville for the season-opening tournament. Play kicks offÂ
Â
Play kicks off on Friday morning with McNeese taking on Miami, followed by the Bearkats' opener at 1 p.m. against Cal State Fullerton. They cap off the first day of competition with a 7:00 p.m. first serve vs Miami and wrap up the Invitational at 2:00 p.m. against McNeese.Â
Each of the three Bearkat matches is scheduled to air live on ESPN+ with Jason Metko calling the action on Friday and Jordan Smith taking the mic on Saturday. All matches of the weekend can be followed via Statbroadcast.
Â
Head coach Brenda Gray enters her 43rd season at the helm of the program, making her the longest-tenured head coach in the nation. She enters the year with 787 career victories to her credit and needs 13 this season to tally 800 for her career.
She will look to hit that mark with a roster whch features nine newcomers to the roster, including five freshmen and four transfers.Â
Among the key returners are Chloe Monson and Shaelin White. Monson was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team a year ago after finishing the year averaging 3.65 kills per set, a mark which ranked third overall in CUSA and tops among all league rookies. White, meanwhile, held down the back line with 4.16 digs per set for the season, a mark which also was third best in all of CUSA.
This year the Kats will also be looking to other returners such as middle blockers Chelsea Butler and Rachelle Reed, along with outside hitter Bella Wood to make impacts this year. Freshman setter Brenlin Garlitz and junior college transfer Lauren Pyle will likely take over running the offensive sets, while veteran East Texas A&M transfer Nevaeh Smith shoudl be looked at to have an impact at the net.
Â
Sam Houston enters the weekend with an all-time record of 2-0 against Cal State Fullerton, with the teams last meeting in 1995. The Bearkats are 0-1 all time against Miami, with the lone meeting coming in 2000. Sam Houston holds a 34-24 all-time record against McNeese, including a meeting in Huntsville last season.Â
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
RS/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballThursday, September 25
Tuesday, September 09
Tuesday, August 26
Friday, October 25
