UAB Beach Volleyball Opens the 2026 Season with Experience and Momentum

Friday, February 20

Tallahassee, Fla.

8 A.M.

UAB

Florida State

Photo by: Ken Shepherd

UAB Beach Volleyball Opens the 2026 Season with Experience and Momentum

2/19/2026 2:30:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB Beach Volleyball team opens the 2026 season this weekend at the Unconquered Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla., beginning a campaign that features national recognition, returning experience and one of the program's strongest schedules to date.

UAB received a vote in the AVCA Collegiate Beach Preseason Coaches Poll released on Tuesday after a program-record 21-win season in 2025. The Blazers' slate includes seven teams ranked in the initial preseason top 20, highlighted by an opening weekend matchup against No. 8 Florida State.

OPENING WEEKEND IN TALLAHASSEE
The Blazers begin the season with matches Friday and Saturday at Florida State, providing an early test against ranked competition. UAB will face the Seminoles on Friday at 8 a.m. CT, followed by another top 20 opponent, No. 18 Georgia State later that afternoon at 4:45 p.m. CT. The Blazers weekend slate concludes with matches on Saturday against Cal State Bakersfield at 9:15 a.m. CT and North Alabama at 1 p.m. CT.

The opening event sets the tone for a challenging spring schedule, which includes trips to the West Coast for the Long Beach State Invitational, to DeLand, Fla. for the Stetson Spring Invitational and a pair of home tournaments.

HAAS, STANT GRAB CUSA PRESEASON HONORS
Senior duo Jasmine Haas and Olivia Stant were named to the CUSA Beach Volleyball Preseason Team. Haas and Stant made UAB history in 2025, breaking the single season pair wins record. Haas and Stant look to break the all-time pair wins record, sitting six wins behind Sara Rishell and Rachel Fairbanks for the all-time record.

COURT 1 DUO LEADS VETERAN LINEUP
UAB returns one of C-USA's top pairings in Haas and Stant, who combined for a 26-7 overall record last season. The duo earned All-Conference honors and anchored a lineup that produced the most successful season in program history.

Haas, already the winningest Court 1 player in program history, enters her senior season just four wins shy of becoming the program's all-time wins leader.

EXPERIENCE AND DEPTH ACROSS THE COURTS
The Blazers return a veteran core across the lineup, including Addison Atkins, Lauren Cairo, Olivia Chychrun, and Isabel Day, along with Sadie Sharpe, Alexa Smith and Sarah Smith. Ashley Torsone, Claudia Stockard and Amelia Sullivan add additional experience and depth as UAB looks to build on last season's success under third-year head coach Delaney Rose.

NEW FACES ADD COMPETITION
North Alabama transfer Pien Grooters joins freshmen Ava Grace Knott, Delaney Rich and Virginia Voitier as newcomers to the program, bringing added size and versatility as the Blazers prepare for conference play later this spring.

PRESEASON POLL HIGHLIGHTS STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The AVCA preseason rankings featured UCLA at No. 1, followed by Stanford, Cal Poly, USC and TCU. Florida State, Long Beach State, Washington, Tulane, LMU and Stetson – all opponents on UAB's 2026 schedule – were also ranked, underscoring the strength of the Blazers' early-season slate. UAB was among teams receiving votes in the opening poll.