For the first time ever, Texas A&M volleyball will take the court at Reed Arena in the fall as defending national champions.
Nine seniors led the Aggies’ magical 2025 NCAA Tournament run that featured two five-set wins and a sweep of heavy favorite Kentucky. All-Americans Ifenna Cos-Okpalla and Logan Lednicky are just two of the standouts Jamie Morrison will be looking to replace.
Now, a young core buttressed by senior Kyndal Stowers — another All-American from last season — the Aggies are looking to repeat as champions. But it undoubtedly will be a difficult journey to reach the Alamodome for the Final Four in December.
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Here is what to expect for the Aggies volleyball in 2026:
Is the schedule a good test for postseason readiness?
The Aggies’ schedule is loaded with challenges at every turn, but that is expected as Morrison continues to elevate the program.
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A&M opens the season against Louisville (Aug. 21), one of the teams that took the Aggies to five sets, and follows it with a rematch against SMU (Aug. 23). They have tournament games before facing Big Ten and ACC programs, including Purdue (Sept. 1) and Stanford (Sept. 9) the first two weeks of next month.
Add in-state foes Stephen F. Austin and Rice among a few more games before conference play opens at home with South Carolina (Sept. 27). Alabama and Mississippi State visit Reed Arena before the Aggies travel to Oklahoma (Oct. 7) and Arkansas (Oct. 11). A rematch with Kentucky is slated for Oct. 25 before a Nov. 1 game against Texas at Gregory Gym, among others.
Four more games round out the schedule before the SEC Tournament starts Nov. 20 in Savannah, Ga. With more than a half-dozen NCAA Tournament participants from last season scheduled, Morrison’s team will be battle-tested.
Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison talks to his players between sets during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
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Can the sophomores take a leap?
Sophomore defensive specialist Addi Applegate shared responsibilities in the back row with graduated libero Ava Underwood. Fellow sophomores Taryn Morris and Megan Finch received reps throughout the season and had the chance to learn from experienced pins like Lednicky and Emily Hellmuth.
A&M’s 2025 recruiting class has big shoes to fill. But the Aggies have time to build chemistry and be another group that could lead A&M to another national title, especially if Morrison continues to recruit top talent from across the country.
Texas A&M libero Addie Applegate (2) returns a serve during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
In November, Morrison signed a pin (Brooke Lacewell), a middle blocker (Lolufe Adedeji), a libero (Gabi Rodriguez) and a defensive specialist (Jenna Thedford) for 2026. Many of them are ranked as top-150 recruits and have experience playing at the national team on some level.
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If A&M is to be the first team to repeat since Texas in 2022-23, Stowers will need some younger teammates to step up.
MORE: Texas A&M never gave Kentucky a chance in NCAA volleyball finals sweep. Here’s how
Will Texas A&M transfers make an impact early?
The Aggies picked up setter Lily Nicholson (Florida State), middle blocker Eliza Sharp (Boisie State), outside hitter Natalie Ring (Marquette) and middle blocker Kaia Castle (Ohio State) via the transfer portal.
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Experienced middle blockers are needed thanks to the graduations of now-professional pins Cos-Okpalla and Morgan Perkins. Now Morrison has two options to continue A&M’s pattern of having an imposing front row.
Texas A&M outside hitter Kyndal Stowers swings for a point against Nebraska on Dec. 14, 2025 in Lincoln, Neb.
Texas A&M Athletics
Nicholson will have her work cut out for her because not only does she have to adjust to Morrison’s offense, but also to how her teammates like the ball. Stowers and the rest of the Aggies can’t deliver prime swings if Nicholson can’t get them the ball, so pay attention to how she distributes in system offense.
Stowers will be double-teamed all over the court, so having an experienced hitter like Ring, who has 754 career kills, to lighten the load will help. Plus, A&M’s dynamic offenses uses a lot of different pieces so the underclassmen will likely have chances for big swings.
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Fans will get a chance to see the new-look defending champions during the program’s open scrimmage at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.