MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The 2026 Faulkner volleyball schedule is out now, the 22nd and final season of the Tori Renda era.
The Lady Eagles open the season in a tournament at conference and in-state rival Mobile, where they will take on Southern University New Orleans and Florida Memorial on Friday, August 21, as well as the Rams in nonconference action on Saturday, the 22nd at Pharr Gymnasium.
The home slate begins the following weekend with the 26th annual Faulkner Invitational. Back to a two-court event after a rare one-court tournament last year, the Lady Eagles open the school year in Tine Davis Gymnasium by facing off against common early-season tournament foes Webber International and Reinhardt on Friday, August 28 and with less regular opponents in IU Southeast and Bryan on Saturday, the 29th. They look to earn a win in their second-ever meeting with the Grenadiers and equalize the all-time series record in their sixth matchup with the Lions.
Faulkner will play in the FHU Labor Day Classic for the first time in four years as it plays Tougaloo for the first time and Williams Baptist for the fourth time on Friday, September 4, before taking on Brescia for the second time and finally host and sister school Freed-Hardeman for the 18th time on Saturday, the 5th.
The Lady Eagles host one more tournament the next week in a tri-match with new SSAC member Andrew and NCCAA foe Pensacola Christian on Tuesday, the 8th, as it takes on the Fighting Tigers for the first time and PCC for the 33rd. The Lady Eagle rivalry has split 2-2 over the last two seasons after Faulkner won the previous 16 meetings. Andrew will be in its first year as a four-year institution and as a full NAIA member.
Faulkner then gets in full swing in SSAC play when it travels to Tennessee Southern on Friday, September 18, looking for its first win in Pulaski since 2018, when the school was still Martin Methodist. The team then heads to Blue Mountain, Miss., to take on the Volley Toppers the next day, looking for its first win over BMCU since the 2020 COVID-affected season.
The Lady Eagles return home the next week, welcoming in Brewton-Parker Christian, the conference opponent that Faulkner saw the most success against last season, on Friday night, September 25, looking for their 61st win in their 66th meeting. The next day, Faulkner welcomes a second SSAC newcomer in Wesleyan, the fourth time in program history that it will take on the Wolves and the first time the former NCAA Division III side comes to Tine Davis, as the Lady Eagles aim to remain unbeaten in the series.
Faulkner heads to Georgia the next week to play Life and Point on October 2 and 3, respectively, as in the latter, the Lady Eagles look to win their first Battle of I-85 installment in West Point since Point joined the SSAC in 2022.
Next up for Faulkner is a two-match trip to New Orleans, as they play at The Den against defending SSAC champion Loyola on Friday, October 10, for the last time before the Wolf Pack heads to NCAA Division II. The next day, the Lady Eagles play at new SSAC member Xavier for the sixth straight time in their history, looking for a seventh win over the Golden Nuggets in nine meetings.
On Thursday, October 15, at 6 pm, Faulkner welcomes Mobile for a conference match return trip to kick off Homecoming Weekend. The next day, William Carey comes to Tine Davis for another 6 pm first serve, as Faulkner will welcome all volleyball alumni back to campus for a celebration of Renda's time leading the program.
The Lady Eagles make the return trip to Wesleyan and BPCU on October 23 and 24, respectively, before the second leg of the home-and-homes with PCC on Tuesday, October 27, at 6 pm and Andrew on Thursday, October 29, at 5 pm. They wrap up the regular season as Point and Life come to Tine Davis on November 6 and 7, respectively, where Faulkner will look to have the same Friday night hype it had last season in a home sweep of the Skyhawks before aiming to celebrate Renda's final senior class with a win over the Running Eagles.
The SSAC Volleyball Championship, featuring the top eight teams in the conference in pool play, will take place from November 12-14. The NAIA Volleyball Championship Opening Round takes place on November 21 at campus sites, with the winners advancing to the Final Site of Sioux City, Iowa, from December 2-8.
