WEATHERFORD - SWOSU Volleyball enters its 21st season as a program and its 14th under head coach Josh Collins.
Watch SWOSU's portion of the GAC's Volleyball Media Day below.
The Bulldogs are coming off a standout 2024 campaign, finishing 21-8 overall and 15-1 in GAC play. After starting conference action 1-1, SWOSU rattled off 13 straight wins to capture the program's first-ever GAC Regular Season Championship. Their run ended in the GAC Tournament semifinals against eventual champion Ouachita Baptist.
The Dawgs retooled their roster this offseason after graduating nine seniors, including two award winners: unanimous GAC Player of the Year Lacy Mott and GAC Defensive Player of the Year Samantha Kuzma.
This year's squad features six freshmen alongside seven returners, highlighted by seniors Cameron Turner, Hailey Smith, and Paris Patterson.
The Bulldogs' season begins with 11 non-conference matches spread across three tournaments. They open September 4-6 at McKendree University, facing tough competition from the GLVC and NSIC. The following weekend, September 11-13, they head to Lubbock Christian for matchups against teams from the RMAC and LSC.
The final non-conference test comes at the GAC/MIAA Crossover in Edmond, hosted by Central Oklahoma. There, SWOSU will face the host Bronchos—last year's NCAA Final Four team—along with strong opponents Emporia State and Fort Hays State.
GAC play begins September 23 at home inside the Pioneer Event Center against East Central, the first of just seven home matches this season.
SWOSU boasts one of the top home-court advantages in the nation, going 34-4 at the PEC over the past four seasons. The Dawgs have also ranked in the national top 10 in attendance in three of the last four years.
"Things are good," Collins said in his Media Day interview. "We're healthy and working hard, learning a lot with six new freshmen, but it has been good so far."
The postseason featuring the top 8 teams from the regular season, will be held from November 20-22.
