COMMERCE, Texas – The ULM volleyball team will open the 2026 campaign at the Lion Invitational, hosted by East Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas. The Warhawks will face Southern Illinois on Friday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. for the first match of the year, and then take on Texas Southern on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. The Warhawks will wrap up the weekend against East Texas A&M on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. The first two matches are available to watch here, and the third will be available on ESPN+.

The series against Texas Southern is knotted up at 1-1, with both matches between the two schools being played during the 2007 season. ULM trails in the all-time series against Southern Illinois, 0-5. The match against East Texas A&M will be the first in program history.

SCOUTING THE SALUKIS –
Southern Illinois enters the 2026 season coming off of a 13-17 overall finish in 2025. The Salukis ended the season winning their two final games. Head coach Brittany Harry is entering her second season leading the program.  

SCOUTING THE TIGERS –
Texas Southern finished the 2025 season with a 10-19 overall record, but earned a 9-7 conference record. The Tigers will take on East Texas A&M on Friday, Aug. 28, before playing the Warhawks on Saturday (Aug. 29).

SCOUTING THE LIONS –
East Texas A&M, the host of the Lion Invitational, ended the 2025 season on a three-game losing streak to finish with a 9-19 overall record. Lions head coach Joe Morales is entering his fourth season leading the team. Fourth-year Gracie Campbell returns as the Lions leader in sets-played (102), points (431) and kills (393) from the 2025 season.

FAMILIAR FOE –
Assistant coach Rich Rosales joined ULM volleyball this past offseason, after spending the previous two years at East Texas A&M as a graduate assistant. Rosales is joined on the Bayou by ULM graduate assistant Brooke Box, who graduated from East Texas A&M in the spring after playing for the Lions during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

REID TAKES COMMAND –
Gann is entering his second season at the helm of the program. In his first year, the team's record improved by six games from the previous season, and he guided ULM to its highest win total since 2019. The Belmont, Miss. Native spent his first six seasons coaching at Blue Mountain State, winning a total of 130 matches and leading the program to three NAIA National Championship Tournament appearances. Before Blue Mountain State, Gann coached at New Albany High School and his alma mater at Belmont High School.

RETURNING PRODUCTION –
ULM returns five total players from the 2025 roster. Fifth-year Briana Raney, two fourth-years in Kenzie Behl and Morgan Howard, and second-years Eden Pietrzak and Aniya Hall make their return to the Maroon & Gold for the 2026 season.
Hall was the leading point-scorer and had the most kills for the Warhawks from the previous season, tallying 285.5 points and 272 kills. Howard led the way with 631 assists and 42 service aces on the year.

Raney held it down on the defensive end, leading the Warhawks with 316 digs (3.74 per set) in 2025, while Behl led the team with 69 blocks. Pietrzak adds returning experience, having played 95 sets last season, coming in at fourth-most on the team. Howard and Morgan were each the only Warhawks to start all 30 matches, as well as play in all 104 sets of the 2025 season.

TRANSFER TANDEM –
The 2026 roster features four transfers, with each joining the Warhawks with Division I experience. Senior Abby Cunningham comes to ULM from a familiar foe, the Ragin' Cajuns. She played in 105 sets across 43 matches during her career in Lafayette, bringing Sun-Belt experience to ULM. Senior Marissa Kobelski joins the Warhawks from Merrimack College, where she totaled 292 sets across three seasons.

Sophomore Bre Perrin comes to Monroe with a year of SEC experience under her belt. She spent the 2025 season at Mississippi State, where she saw action in four matches. Gracie DiNardo joins the Warhawks from Sacred Heart where she spent the last three years.

FRESHMAN WAVE –
Eight freshmen join the 2026 roster for the Warhawks. Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada are each represented in the class, with Florida claiming three of the players. Amelia Colon (Land O' Lakes), Zharia Alleyne (Wesley Chapel), and Olivia Anderson (Seminole) are from Florida. Taylor Reid is from Gainesville, Georgia, Grace Troxell joins from Indianapolis, Indiana, and Kennedy Scott comes from Melissa, Texas. To round out the class, Tatum Clay joins the Warhawks from Gilbert, Arizona and Myla Matavao comes from Las Vegas, Nevada.

LOOKING AHEAD –
The Warhawks will play their first home match of the season at b1Bank Fant Coliseum against in-state opponent Northwestern State on Tuesday (Sept. 1). First serve is set for 6 p.m. against the Demons.