ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State head volleyball coach Melissa Paige announced the Lady Bulldogs' 2026 schedule, a slate featuring 31 matches, three early-season tournaments and a challenging Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule.

SCSU will begin preparations with a scrimmage against UNC Pembroke on Aug. 22 in Pembroke, North Carolina, before opening the regular season at the Alabama A&M Invitational on Aug. 28-29 in Huntsville, Alabama. SC State will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff, host Alabama A&M and Mississippi Valley State during the opening weekend.

The Lady Bulldogs continue tournament play Sept. 3-5 at the Charleston Championship Invitational, where they will meet Charleston Southern, The Citadel and the College of Charleston. SC State then travels to Alabama for a Sept. 10 matchup against Tuskegee before competing in the ISTAP Invitational on Sept. 11-12 in Montgomery, Alabama.

While at the ISTAP SCSU will take on host Alabama State and Nicholls State both on Sept.11, followed by a battle with Miami University (Ohio) on Sept. 12.

SC State's home and away two-match series against Claflin begins Sept. 15 at home inside Dukes Gymnasium, followed by a showdown on Sept. 16 at Claflin inside Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Center (Tullis Arena). The Lady Bulldogs will also host a pair of nonconference matches against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 18-19.

The Lady Bulldogs close out nonconference competition with contests against Fort Valley State (9/22), Allen University (9/29) and Edward Waters University (10/18), while also facing several regional opponents throughout the season.

MEAC play opens Sept. 25 at Maryland Eastern Shore and Sept. 27 at Delaware State. The Lady Bulldogs will play at Norfolk State (10/9), Howard (10/11), NC Central (10/16), Coppin State (10/30) and Morgan State (11/1).

Conference home matches begin Oct. 2 against Coppin State and Oct. 4 against Morgan State. SC State will also host Maryland Eastern Shore (10/23), Delaware State (10/25), Norfolk State (11/6), Howard (11/8) and North Carolina Central (11/13) during the second half of the season.

The 2026 MEAC Volleyball Championship is scheduled for Nov. 20-22 in Baltimore, Maryland.

For complete times and dates visit www.scsuathletics.com . Times, locations and dates are subject to change.