In less than 60 days, Houston volleyball will open the 2026 season at the LSU tournament in Baton Rouge, La. against Incarnate Word and Wake Forest on August 28-29, looking to bounce back from a 9-20 campaign.
The Paradise Invitational in Nassau, Bahamas (Sept. 12-13), headlines Houston’s nonconference schedule. The Cougars have faced each of the other teams in the field—Purdue, Kentucky and SMU—at their respective home venues over the past three seasons before agreeing to move the event to an international site this year. While the tournament was scheduled to take place in Houston this season, the teams will travel to UH in 2027.
“We are becoming the next sport people are wanting to watch, so we are taking advantage of it,” eighth year Houston coach David Rehr said of the event.
The Cougars will host the Houston Invitational (Sept. 3-4) and the Flo Hyman Classic (Sept. 18-19) in Fertitta Center with matchups against local teams including Houston Christian and Texas Southern as well as Abilene Christian, UTSA and Texas State.
On Sept. 8, the Cougars welcome Lamar, in their sole non-conference match that is not part of a tournament.
The Cougars begin conference play in the state of Kansas with matches against Kansas and Kansas State on Sept. 25 and 27.
On Oct. 2 Cincinnati and Big 12 volleyball return to Fertitta Center, before Houston departs to face West Virginia on Oct. 4.
Houston will then spend nearly two weeks at home as it welcomes BYU, UCF and Texas Tech, for three straight home games on Oct. 8, 16 and 18. The Cougars beat the Red Raiders twice in 2025, for their lone two conference victories.
The Cougars won’t travel far when they hit the road again, facing Baylor in Waco on Oct. 23, and returning home to face Iowa State on Oct. 25.
Houston will head to Arizona to take on Arizona and reigning Big 12 Champion Arizona State on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.
In the final month of the regular season, the Cougars host TCU on Nov. 6, West Virginia on Nov. 12, Utah on Nov. 14, and Colorado on Nov. 20.
The Cougars head to UCF on Nov. 8, and don’t travel again until their last two regular season matches against Texas Tech and Iowa State on Nov. 22 and 25.
While the Cougars feature 13 newcomers through transfers and freshmen, just four players who saw the court in 2025 return: redshirt junior outside hitter Alyssa Gonzales, sophomore outside hitter Tara Greenberry, sophomore libero Gillian Pitts and sixth-year middle blocker Aidan Conner.
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Lily Barron continues to work her way back from a torn MPLF, a ligament tear that sidelined her for the entire 2025 season. As part of her recovery, Barron has started training in a defensive specialist role while gradually progressing toward full jumping activities throughout the summer.
Houston added several transfers through the portal, including junior outside hitter Kamille Gibson from Oklahoma and junior setter Kalei Edson from Auburn. Gibson is expected to provide production as both a scorer and defender, totaling 421 kills and 97 blocks across two seasons with the Sooners. Edson brings setting experience to a Houston team that lost both of its sophomore setters to the portal. Edson recorded 482 assists, 177 digs and 19 aces last season for the Tigers.
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