Alcorn State University announced its 2026 volleyball schedule Monday, highlighting a mix of in-season tournaments and conference matchups. The Braves are scheduled to play 10 matches at the Davey L. Whitney Complex during the season.
The team opens the season with an exhibition at Northwestern State on Aug. 21, then travels to New Orleans for the LSU-New Orleans/Nicholls Challenge on Aug. 28-29. Additional nonconference matches include contests at Louisiana Tech, the Carrie Yerty Classic hosted by Memphis in Tennessee on Sept. 10-11, and a game at SEC opponent Alabama on Sept. 16, according to the schedule.
Head Coach Gabrielle Harris, entering her second season with the team, said the nonconference slate is designed to prepare the team for Southwestern Athletic Conference play. “We’re going to see a lot of different styles and travel to some tough environments early, and that’s going to pay off once we jump into SWAC waters,” Harris said. “Playing on the road tests our depth and our focus, and I think our players will be more than ready when SWAC play begins.”
SWAC play begins Sept. 25, when Alcorn hosts Grambling State at 6 p.m. The team will also host Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 27. The Braves then hit the road for three matches in early October, facing Texas Southern in Houston on Oct. 2, Prairie View A&M on Oct. 4, and Southern on Oct. 7. They return home for matches against Jackson State on Oct. 9 and Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 11.
Additional road matches include contests in Florida at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 23 and Florida A&M on Oct. 25. The team will finish its home league schedule with three matches at the Whitney Complex, hosting Southern on Oct. 28, Prairie View A&M on Oct. 30, and Texas Southern on Nov. 1. The regular season concludes with away matches at Grambling State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alabama State, and Alabama A&M from Nov. 6-15.
Harris noted that closing the season with four straight road matches will be demanding but beneficial. “Playing meaningful matches away from home late in the year builds the toughness and focus we need heading into the SWAC Tournament,” she said. The tournament is scheduled for Nov. 20-22 in Montgomery, Alabama, hosted by Alabama State.
Follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter (@BravesSports), Instagram (@AlcornSports), and YouTube (Braves Sports Network) for updates and behind-the-scenes content, according to the release.
