The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Volleyball Unveils 2026 Slate
7/16/2026 11:00:00β―AM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Seventh-year Head Coach Betsy Freeburg announced the 2026 UAB Volleyball Schedule on Thursday morning, including 28 regular-season contests.
The Blazers open the season at Chattanooga, Tenn., against Valparaiso at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 29. UAB will return to Maclellan Gym the next day for its first doubleheader of the season, playing Tennessee State at 11 a.m., before wrapping the weekend with tournament hosts, Chattanooga, at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Weekend two puts UAB in Queens, N.Y., on the campus of St. John's University. The Blazers will face East Texas A&M at 9 a.m. On Friday, September 4, before turning around to play St. John's at 6 p.m. That same night. The Blazers close the weekend in the Big Apple against Rider at 9 a.m. on September 5.
For the third straight week to open the season, UAB will be in the Eastern Time Zone, playing at Oakland in Rochester, Mich. The Blazers will kick off the weekend against the hosting Golden Grizzlies at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 11. The Blazers will take on Eastern Michigan (September 11, 4 p.m.) and Montana (September 12, 11 a.m.) to finish the tournament.
The Blazers close the non-conference schedule with the Alabama Showdown, hosted by Auburn. The Blazers and Tigers are set for a 6 p.m. First serve on Thursday, September 17. UAB will then play South Alabama at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 18. The Blazers will return to the Magic City for their final non-conference contest in a cross-town match against Samford at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, in Homewood.
UAB's American Conference slate begins on the road, making a trip to Philadelphia for a September 25 contest at Temple, then a long overnight trip to Houston to play defending regular-season conference champions, Rice, on September 27. The Blazers will make their final stop in Memphis for a midweek contest on September 30.
The Blazers kick off their home schedule in the newly renovated Bartow Arena on October 4, welcoming Tulsa to town for a 1 p.m. first serve.
Memphis makes its return trip, wrapping the regular-season series early by visiting Birmingham on October 9, before UAB makes a quick trip to New Orleans, facing Tulane at 1 p.m. on October 11.
UAB's first full week at home will be October 16-18, with the Blazers set to host East Carolina and Temple on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
The Blazers return to San Antonio after a year away from Alamo City, playing UTSA at 6 p.m. on October 23. UAB will head North in the Lone Star State, playing North Texas at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 25.
UAB welcomes Charlotte to Bartow Arena on Friday, October 30, then finishes the weekend with an afternoon matchup against UTSA on November 1.
The final road trip of the season takes the Blazers to Florida, visiting Florida Atlantic on November 6 before making the drive to Tampa to play South Florida on November 8.
Freeburg's Blazers wrap the regular season at Bartow Arena, hosting North Texas on Friday, November 13, and Wichita State on Sunday, November 15.
The 2026 American Championships will be hosted by Rice in Houston. The Tournament will span November 20-22.
Schedule Notes
The Blazers open the season at Chattanooga, Tenn., against Valparaiso at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 29. UAB will return to Maclellan Gym the next day for its first doubleheader of the season, playing Tennessee State at 11 a.m., before wrapping the weekend with tournament hosts, Chattanooga, at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Weekend two puts UAB in Queens, N.Y., on the campus of St. John's University. The Blazers will face East Texas A&M at 9 a.m. On Friday, September 4, before turning around to play St. John's at 6 p.m. That same night. The Blazers close the weekend in the Big Apple against Rider at 9 a.m. on September 5.
For the third straight week to open the season, UAB will be in the Eastern Time Zone, playing at Oakland in Rochester, Mich. The Blazers will kick off the weekend against the hosting Golden Grizzlies at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 11. The Blazers will take on Eastern Michigan (September 11, 4 p.m.) and Montana (September 12, 11 a.m.) to finish the tournament.
The Blazers close the non-conference schedule with the Alabama Showdown, hosted by Auburn. The Blazers and Tigers are set for a 6 p.m. First serve on Thursday, September 17. UAB will then play South Alabama at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 18. The Blazers will return to the Magic City for their final non-conference contest in a cross-town match against Samford at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, in Homewood.
UAB's American Conference slate begins on the road, making a trip to Philadelphia for a September 25 contest at Temple, then a long overnight trip to Houston to play defending regular-season conference champions, Rice, on September 27. The Blazers will make their final stop in Memphis for a midweek contest on September 30.
The Blazers kick off their home schedule in the newly renovated Bartow Arena on October 4, welcoming Tulsa to town for a 1 p.m. first serve.
Memphis makes its return trip, wrapping the regular-season series early by visiting Birmingham on October 9, before UAB makes a quick trip to New Orleans, facing Tulane at 1 p.m. on October 11.
UAB's first full week at home will be October 16-18, with the Blazers set to host East Carolina and Temple on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
The Blazers return to San Antonio after a year away from Alamo City, playing UTSA at 6 p.m. on October 23. UAB will head North in the Lone Star State, playing North Texas at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 25.
UAB welcomes Charlotte to Bartow Arena on Friday, October 30, then finishes the weekend with an afternoon matchup against UTSA on November 1.
The final road trip of the season takes the Blazers to Florida, visiting Florida Atlantic on November 6 before making the drive to Tampa to play South Florida on November 8.
Freeburg's Blazers wrap the regular season at Bartow Arena, hosting North Texas on Friday, November 13, and Wichita State on Sunday, November 15.
The 2026 American Championships will be hosted by Rice in Houston. The Tournament will span November 20-22.
Schedule Notes
- The Blazers will play their first-ever matches against St. John's, Rider, and Oakland.
- UAB and Montana meet for the first time since December 5, 1992 (W, 3-0).
- Each of the Blazers' final 19 matches will be against 2025 opponents.
- UAB has never lost a match against Tennessee State (7-0).
- UAB is looking for its first wins over Wichita State (0-5), Eastern Michigan (0-2), and East Texas A&M (0-1).Β
- UAB is seeking its first win over Tulsa since 2008.
- The Blazers are looking for their first away win over USF since 1990.
Tuesday, July 14
Wednesday, July 08
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
