Kats open 2026 with pair of wins

Friday, August 28

Huntsville

1:00 PM

1-0,0-0CUSA

Cal State Fullerton

0-1,0-0Big West

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Cal State Fullerton	16	15	21	0
Sam Houston	25	25	25	3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Miami (OH)	27	25	16	25	11	2
Sam Houston	29	19	25	18	15	3

Shaelin White celebrate 2026 Cal State Fullerton

Photo by: Paige Holland

Kats open 2026 with pair of wins

8/28/2026 9:57:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston volleyball team opened the 2026 season on Friday with a pair of wins over Cal State Fullerton and Miami (OH) on the first day of the Bearkat Invitational at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.

The Kats will try to make it a perfect 3-0 weekend on Saturday when they take on McNeese. First serve against the cowgirls is set at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

Sam Houston 3, Cal State Fullerton 0

The Bearkats kicked off the day in style, sweeping their way past the Titans, 3-0, to kickstart the weekend.

The Kats were dominant at the net, forcing 25 Cal State Fullerton misfires and holding the Titans to -.010 hitting. Much of that came from three blocks apiece from Rachelle Reed and Chelsea Butler, while Shaelin White held down the back line with a match-high 16 digs.

Offensively, Chloe Monson picked up where she left off in 2025, opening the season with a 12-kill effort which included a .259 attack percentage and three digs. Freshman setter Brenlin Garlitz debuted with 13 assists and five digs of her own, while transfer setter Lauren Pyle chipped in with 10 assists and six digs.

Sam Houston 3, Miami (OH) 2

The Bearkats picked up their second win of the day in dramatic fashion in the day's finale, closing Set 5 with a 7-0 run to down the Redhawks.

The Kats held a 2-1 advantage after three sets before Miami rallied to force a decisive fifth frame, and the visitors carried that momentum over, taking an 11-8 lead before Sam Houston caught fire. The late-match surge was aided largely by three kills from Chloe Monson who led all players with 21 kills in the match. Sam Houston also got three blocks in the run, ultimately giving the Kats a 15-4 advantage in blocks for the night.

Monson added 10 digs to her total to make her one of four Kats with double-doubles. She was joined by libero Shaelin White (10 assists, 18 digs), Brenlin Garlitz (17 assists, 14 digs) and Lauren Pyle (25 assists, 12 digs).

Bella Wood also turned in a big night with a career-best 18 kills, hitting .273 on 44 total swings and just missing a double-double of her own with nine digs.