Lamar University kicks off its 2026 volleyball season with an exhibition match against Houston Christian on Saturday, Aug. 15, at McDonald Gym. Following this event, the Cardinals will face Texas State before starting a challenging 10-match road stretch. Coming off a successful previous season where they achieved a 17-15 overall record, the team aims to build on its recent momentum. This marks their first winning conference record since 2011 and consecutive tournament appearances since 2010-2011.

By the Numbers
  • Lamar finished last season with a 17-15 record, their best since 2008.
  • The Cardinals achieved a 10-match winning streak, tying the fifth-longest in program history.
State of Play
  • Lamar is ranked fifth in the Southland Conference preseason poll with 87 votes.
  • The Cardinals return eight lettermen, including six upperclassmen, and welcome ten newcomers.
What's Next

After the exhibition matches, Lamar will compete at the ACU Invitational on Aug. 28-29, followed by hosting the Lamar Invitational on Sept. 18-19.

Bottom Line

Building on last season鈥檚 successes, Lamar University aims to strengthen its competitive edge in the Southland Conference while integrating a considerable number of new players into the roster. The exhibition matches will be pivotal for establishing early season momentum.