SWOSU Volleyball begins its 22nd season of competition Thursday when the Bulldogs open the 2026 campaign at the Western Colorado Invitational in Gunnison, Colorado.
 
The Bulldogs enter the new season following a strong finish to 2025 that saw them go 16-15 overall and 12-4 in Great American Conference play. SWOSU won nine of its final 11 matches, including a run to the GAC Tournament championship match as the No. 3 seed, before falling to Oklahoma Baptist in the title match.
 
Seven players return from last year's squad, including All-GAC selections Katja Blanchat, Jada Permenter and Mackenzie Sims. Seven newcomers - four transfers and three freshmen - round out the 14-player roster.
 
The returning group helped SWOSU earn the No. 4 spot in the GAC Preseason Coaches Poll, just two points behind defending regular season champion Ouachita Baptist in third. Harding topped the poll with 114 points and four first-place votes, followed by defending GAC Tournament champion Oklahoma Baptist with 111 points and a league-high six first-place votes. Ouachita received the remaining two first-place votes and 96 points, while SWOSU followed with 94.
 
Head coach Josh Collins enters his 15th season leading the Bulldog program. The three-time GAC Coach of the Year has guided SWOSU to four 20-win seasons, the 2015 GAC Tournament Championship and the program's first GAC regular season title in 2024.
 
SWOSU returns plenty of experience defensively, beginning with Permenter at libero. The senior earned Honorable Mention All-GAC honors last season after leading the Bulldogs with 594 digs and 5.26 digs per set. She enters her fourth season in the program as a two-time All-GAC selection after also being named the GAC Freshman of the Year in 2023.
 
At the net, Blanchat returns following a breakout freshman season that earned her Second Team All-GAC honors. She led the Bulldogs with 142 total blocks and averaged 1.35 blocks per set while adding 142 kills on a .259 hitting percentage. Fellow sophomore Sydnee Winfrey also returns after producing 240 kills and 125 blocks as a freshman.
 
The duo helped anchor a SWOSU defense that totaled 305.5 blocks and averaged 2.70 per set in 2025, second most in all of Division II, while holding opponents to a .155 hitting percentage.
 
Sims returns at setter after earning Honorable Mention All-GAC recognition as a freshman. She finished the season with a team-high 611 assists after taking over primary setting duties during the year. Senior outside hitter Jenna Houk provides another experienced returner after totaling 217 kills and 326 digs, while Morgan Ritchie and Libbie Hughs round out the group of seven returning Bulldogs.
 
SWOSU will replace its top two attackers from a year ago in Hailey Smith and Paris Patterson, who combined for 649 kills in 2025. Smith has since joined the Bulldog coaching staff as an assistant coach.
 
Four transfers join the roster in Josci Buckley from Cowley College, Layla Collins from Washburn, Willow Deckinger from Emporia State and Alexia Ene from Frank Phillips College. Freshmen Madeline Harris, Haley Thomas and Lydia Steckel complete the incoming class.
 
The Bulldogs will be road tested early with their first 11 matches of the season taking place away from Weatherford.
 
That stretch begins Thursday at the Western Colorado Invitational, where SWOSU will play four matches across three days. The Bulldogs open against host Western Colorado at 7 p.m. (CT) before facing Sul Ross State on Friday and New Mexico Highlands and Lubbock Christian on Saturday.
 
SWOSU will continue non-conference play the following week at the Gorilla Classic in Pittsburg, Kansas, before opening GAC play Sept. 8 on the road against Southern Nazarene. One final non-conference tournament in Topeka, Kansas, follows before the Bulldogs return to Weatherford.
 
The home opener is set for Sept. 15 against Oklahoma Baptist inside the Pioneer Event Center, a rematch of last season's GAC Tournament championship match.
 
The 2026 GAC Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 12-14 at a site to be determined.