Women's Volleyball | 7/1/2026 1:32:00 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. — Shaw University volleyball announced its 2026 schedule Wednesday, a slate built around growth, experience and another push toward the top of the CIAA.

The Lady Bears enter the 2026 season after falling just short in the 2025 CIAA Championship match, ending their bid for a third consecutive conference title under first-year head coach Jailynn Hunt. Shaw returns to the court with a younger roster, a mix of transfer leadership and a renewed focus on developing a stronger, more balanced attack.

"The keyword for us this season is growth," Hunt said. "We are a younger, hungry group, but we also have a good mix of transfer leadership that will help guide us. Our focus has been getting bigger and stronger in our attack options and continuing to build every day. We know what the standard is here, and this group is excited for the opportunity to grow into that standard."

Shaw will open the schedule Aug. 15 with an exhibition match against Division I Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Lady Bears will then host Fayetteville Technical Community College on Aug. 20 at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium in another exhibition before taking part in the William Peace Scrimmage Tournament on Aug. 22 in Raleigh.

The Lady Bears will also host their inaugural Alumni Scrimmage on Aug. 24 inside C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium, allowing former players to return to campus and reconnect with the program.

Shaw begins a busy stretch of early-season tournament action Aug. 28-29 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, facing Chestnut Hill, Shepherd and Frostburg State. The Lady Bears return home Sept. 2 to host Catawba before traveling to Mount Olive for neutral-site contests against Coker, Georgia College and Wingate.

Shaw will continue out of conference play Sept. 11 with matches against Concord and Davis & Elkins in Concord, West Virginia, before opening CIAA play Sept. 21 at home against Lincoln (Pa.).

The Lady Bears will also take part in both CIAA Roundups on Oct. 2 in Winston-Salem and Oct. 16 in Ettrick, Virginia. 

Shaw's home CIAA schedule includes matchups against Lincoln (Pa.) on Sept. 21, Bowie State on Oct. 8, Virginia Union on Oct. 12, Virginia State on Oct. 26 and Elizabeth City State on Nov. 2.

The Lady Bears will travel to Virginia Union on Sept. 24, Virginia State on Sept. 28, Elizabeth City State on Oct. 22, Bowie State on Oct. 29 and Lincoln (Pa.) on Nov. 5.

The season will conclude with the CIAA Championship held in Rocky Mount, NC.

2026 Shaw Volleyball Schedule

Aug. 15 at Liberty University, 2 p.m. — Lynchburg, Virginia (exhibition)

Aug. 20 vs. Fayetteville Technical Community College, 6 p.m. — Raleigh, North Carolina (exhibition)

Aug. 22 vs. William Peace Scrimmage Tournament, TBA — Raleigh, North Carolina

Aug. 24 vs. Alumni Scrimmage, 6 p.m. — Raleigh, North Carolina

Aug. 28 vs. Chestnut Hill College, 1 p.m. — Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Aug. 28 vs. Shepherd University, 5 p.m. — Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Aug. 29 vs. Frostburg State University, 3 p.m. — Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Sept. 2 vs. Catawba College, 6 p.m. — Raleigh, North Carolina

Sept. 4 vs. Coker University, TBD — Mount Olive, North Carolina

Sept. 4 vs. Georgia College, 7 p.m. — Mount Olive, North Carolina

Sept. 5 vs. Wingate University, 5 p.m. — Mount Olive, North Carolina

Sept. 11 vs. Concord University, 1 p.m. — Concord, West Virginia

Sept. 11 vs. Davis & Elkins College, 4 p.m. — Concord, West Virginia

Sept. 21 vs. Lincoln University (Pa.), 6 p.m. — Raleigh, North Carolina

Sept. 24 at Virginia Union University, 6 p.m. — Richmond, Virginia

Sept. 28 at Virginia State University, 6 p.m. — Petersburg, Virginia

Oct. 2 vs. CIAA Roundup, TBD — Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Oct. 8 vs. Bowie State University, 6 p.m. — Raleigh, North Carolina

Oct. 12 vs. Virginia Union University, 6 p.m. — Raleigh, North Carolina

Oct. 16 vs. CIAA Roundup, TBD — Ettrick, Virginia

Oct. 22 at Elizabeth City State University, 6 p.m. — Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Oct. 26 vs. Virginia State University, 6 p.m. — Raleigh, North Carolina

Oct. 29 at Bowie State University, 6 p.m. — Bowie, Maryland

Nov. 2 vs. Elizabeth City State University, 6 p.m. — Raleigh, North Carolina

Nov. 5 at Lincoln University (Pa.), 6 p.m. — Lincoln University, Pennsylvania

Nov. 9 vs. CIAA Championship, TBD — Rocky Mount, North Carolina