NEW ORLEANS – Alcorn Volleyball opens the 2026 season this weekend traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana, as the Braves take part in the LSU New Orleans – Nicholls Challenge hosted by the two institutions across New Orleans and Thibodaux, Louisiana, respectively. The action begins Friday, August 28, at LSU New Orleans at 6:30 p.m.
 
MATCH #1: Alcorn Braves at LSU New Orleans Privateers
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 28, at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Human Performance Center (New Orleans, La.)
WATCH LIVE: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Click Here
 
MATCH #2: Alcorn Braves vs. Nicholls Colonels
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 29, at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Human Performance Center (New Orleans, La.)
LIVE STATS: Click Here
 
MATCH #3: Alcorn Braves vs. Stonehill Skyhawks
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Human Performance Center (New Orleans, La.)
LIVE STATS: Click Here
 
IN THE RANKINGS
▪ Alcorn is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
▪ Nicholls is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
▪ LSU New Orleans is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
▪ Stonehill is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up with everything Alcorn Volleyball this year by following the Braves on all their social media platforms. You can follow @AlcornStateVolleyball on Instagram and @BravesSports on Twitter.
 
NEWS & NOTES
▪ Alcorn was picked to finish 10th in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Order of Finish.
▪ The Purple and Gold return top kills leader Courtney Carter (198 kills) in 2026, as well as top assist-maker and setter Juliana Henao (480 assists) from last season's squad.
▪ Alcorn fell in four tough sets away to Northwestern State as part of an exhibition match last weekend in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
▪ Alcorn welcomes seven new faces to this year's team, including four transfers.
▪ Tomoni Giddings finished as one of the best liberos in the league last year after turning in a team-best 340 digs (3.66 dig/s).
▪ Also back is Rylan Jones who led the Braves in blocks a season ago with 38 (29 assisted).
 
ALCORN VS. LSU NEW ORLEANS SERIES
▪ LSU New Orleans holds an unblemished 12-0 record all-time against Alcorn dating back to 2005.
▪ The last time the two sides met was in 2024, as the Privateers claimed a tough 3-2 win in New Orleans.
▪ All but four (4) of the matches in the series have taken place in New Orleans, with two of those in Lorman.
▪ All but the 2024 decision have been 3-0 wins for the Privateers, respectfully.
 
SCOUTING THE PRIVATEERS
▪ The Privateers played two scrimmages against local competitors as part of their preseason preparation. They defeated Xavier (La.) 3-0 on Aug. 15 and won by the same score line against Dillard on Aug. 22.
▪ Ava Frerman led the team in kills with 10 in both matches.
▪ Defne Eciroglu is one of three seniors who have been on the Lakefront all four years. The senior setter is 399 assists away from becoming the seventh student-athlete in program history to record 2,000 career assists.
 
ALCORN VS. NICHOLLS SERIES
▪ It is Nicholls which leads the all-time series against Alcorn by a 10-0 advantage in the series.
▪ The Colonels captured both of last year's meetings – home and away – by mirror 3-0 decisions, respectfully.
▪ The series began in 1993 with the Colonels amassing a hard-fought 3-2 win in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
▪ All but the series opener in 1993 have been 3-0 decisions in favor of Nicholls.
 
SCOUTING THE COLONELS
▪ Nicholls enters year four under head coach Jonea Rima fresh off a 13-16 campaign in 2025.
▪ The 2026 edition of the Colonels squad returns seven players from a season ago including setter Isabella Padilla who paced the offense with 832 assists across the previous campaign.
▪ Sophomore middle blocker Harper Holden looks to keep her momentum rolling into the new year as she led the defense with 71 blocks while also finishing with the second most kills (135).
 
ALCORN VS. STONEHILL SERIES
▪ Alcorn and Stonehill have never faced off in the sport of volleyball prior to this year's scheduled encounter.
 
SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS
▪ The Skyhawks of Stonehill went 6-24 overall last year, adding a 5-11 record in the Northeast Conference (NEC).
▪ The squad was paced last year by the effort of Mia Berardino with a team-high 345 kills (3.11 k/s), followed by Sam Lloyd with 259 kills (2.42 k/s).
▪ Stonehill will be looking to fill the void of more than 65 percent of the Skyhawks' kills from a season ago with the loss of both Berardino and Lloyd.
▪ Eleven of the team's 19 players are currently freshmen or sophomores.
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BRAVES
2026 Record – 0-0 (.000) // 2026 SWAC Record – 0-0 (.000) // Last 5 Matches – 1-4 (.200) // Last 10 Matches – 1-9 (.100) // Last 15 Matches – 2-13 (.133) // Gabrielle Harris is entering her second year for the Braves as Interim Head Coach.
 
UP NEXT
Alcorn will enjoy the home opener for the 2026 campaign as Dillard (La.) visits Davey L. Whitney Complex for a nonconference matchup on Thursday, September 3, at noon.
 
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