LORMAN, Miss. – The 2026 Alcorn Volleyball schedule was unveiled Monday, August 10, with the Braves slated to play in a pair of in-season tournaments along with a total of 10 matches inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex across the campaign.
 
Alcorn opens the season on the road Aug. 21 at Northwestern State for an exhibition contest, before heading to New Orleans, Louisiana, for the LSU-New Orleans/Nicholls Challenge Aug. 28-29. Alcorn also plays nonconference matches at Louisiana Tech, in the Carrie Yerty Classic hoisted by Memphis in Tennessee (September 10-11), and at Southwestern Conference (SEC) opponent Alabama (September 16).
 
"Our nonconference schedule is built to prepare us for the grind of SWAC play," confessed Head Coach Gabrielle Harris, set to begin her second season leading the Braves program. "We're going to see a lot of different styles and travel to some tough environments early, and that's going to pay off once we jump into SWAC waters. Playing on the road tests our depth and our focus, and I think our players will be more than ready when SWAC play rolls around."
 
Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play opens Friday, Sept. 25, when Alcorn hosts Grambling State at 6 p.m. The Braves stay home two days later, welcoming Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a Sunday matinee match set for noon.
 
The Purple and Gold hit the road for a three-match stretch in early October, facing Texas Southern in Houston on Friday, Oct. 2, Prairie View A&M in Prairie View, Texas on Sunday, Oct. 4, and Southern in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
 
The Braves return to Lorman for back-to-back home matches against Jackson State on Friday, Oct. 9, and Mississippi Valley State on Sunday, Oct. 11, respectively.
 
A road swing through the "Sunshine State" ensues, with matches at Bethune-Cookman on Friday, Oct. 23, and at Florida A&M on Sunday, Oct. 25.
 
Alcorn closes out its home league slate with three consecutive matches at the Davey L. Whitney Complex – Southern on Wednesday, Oct. 28, Prairie View A&M on Friday, Oct. 30, and Texas Southern on Sunday, Nov. 1.
 
The Braves will conclude the regular season away from the friendly confines of the Whitney Complex, traveling to Grambling State on Friday, Nov. 6, Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday, Nov. 8, Alabama State on Friday, Nov. 13, and Alabama A&M on Sunday, Nov. 15.
 
"Closing the season with four straight matches on the road is going to demand a lot from this group, but I like that it's set up that way," continued Harris. "Playing meaningful matches away from home late in the year builds the kind of toughness and focus we need heading into the SWAC Tournament, and I trust this team to rise to that."
 
The 2026 SWAC Tournament is slated for Nov. 20-22 in Montgomery, Alabama, hosted by Alabama State.
 
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