BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University opens the 2026 season with a pair of exhibition matches before embarking on a 10-match road swing.
The Cardinals begin their preseason slate by hosting Houston Christian at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at McDonald Gym.
LU then travels to face Texas State in its second exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 22.
RECAPPING LAST SEASON: The Cardinals finished 17-15 overall and placed fifth in the Southland Conference with a 10-6 league record … Lamar's 17 victories were its most since 2008, and the Cardinals posted their first winning conference record since 2011 … LU also advanced to the Southland Conference tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2010 and 2011 while securing back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2008 and 2009 … During the season, the Cardinals matched the fifth-longest winning streak in program history with 10 consecutive victories, equaling a mark last achieved in 1990.
OFFICIAL SEASON OPENER: Lamar opens the 2026 season at the ACU Invitational in Abilene, facing Cal State Bakersfield, host Abilene Christian and North Texas during the two-day tournament Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28-29.
HOME OPENER: The Cardinals return home to host the Lamar Invitational on Sept. 18-19 … During the two-day tournament, Lamar will face North Dakota, UL Monroe and Sam Houston.
CONFERENCE OPENER: Lamar opens Southland Conference play at home against LSU New Orleans at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.
RETURNING LETTERMAN: LU returns eight lettermen including six upperclassmen:
Alexa Gonzalez, Jr., S |
Addison Stanley, Jr., DS |
Emily Moon, Sr., OH |
Riley Johnson, RS-Sr., MB |
Kinley Elms, So., OPP |
Jo Moffitt, Sr., S |
Maja Malinowska, Jr., OH |
Gabby Baker, So., L/DS.
NEWCOMERS: The Cardinals added 10 newcomers to the roster, including four transfer portal additions and six true freshmen.
FROM THE PORTAL: Nisaan Martinez, So., MB/RS (Alabama A&M) |
Grace Hill, Jr., OH/RS (Texas Southern) |
Kiana Souza, So., DS/L (Weatherford College) |
Kimaya Webb, So., MB (UT Permian Basin).
TRUE FRESHMEN: Katelyn Hughes, S |
Rihanna Bryant, MB |
Leila Ceaser, OH |
Gabrielle St. Louis, OPP |
Madelynn Coy, OH/OPP |
Saida Maksoud, MB.
PRESEASON POLL: The Southland Conference announced its preseason poll for the 2026 season, with Lamar selected to finish fifth after receiving 87 votes … Stephen F. Austin, the defending conference tournament champions, topped the poll with 118 points and eight first-place votes.
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
1. SFA - 118 (8)
2. UT Rio Grande Valley - 113 (3)
3. A&M-Corpus Christi - 89 (1)
4. Southeastern Louisiana - 88
5. Lamar - 87
6. Incarnate Word - 86
7. Houston Christian - 57
8. East Texas A&M - 49
9. McNeese - 45
10. LSU New Orleans - 28
11. Nicholls - 17
12. Northwestern State – 15
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LU vs. HCU: The Cardinals defeated Houston Christian in four sets last season, including a 28-26 victory in the fourth set to secure the match … The win marked Lamar's first victory over the Huskies since Nov. 1, 2016.
HUSKIES AT A GLANCE
RECAPPING LAST SEASON: Houston Christian finished 12-18 overall and 7-9 in Southland Conference play, earning the No. 7 seed in the conference tournament … The Huskies won their first five league matches before closing the season on a 2-10 stretch over their final 12 contests.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Allana Archie, Sr., MB (Named second team All-Southland last season | 284 kills | 344 points | 21 service aces | 67 total blocks) … Joya Euhus, So., OH (191 kills | 34 total blocks) … Bianca Byerly, Jr., DS/L (368 digs).
#PeckEmCards
