PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will begin the 2026 season in St. Petersburg, Fla., at the Eckerd Classic.
 
Pitt State is scheduled to play against Wilmington (Del.) on Thursday (Aug. 27) at 3:00 p.m. (CDT) to begin the tournament. The Gorillas will play against the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez at 11:00 a.m., and North Greenville at 4:00 p.m., on Friday (Aug. 28). To finish up the opening weekend, the Gorillas will play hosts Eckerd at 1:00 p.m., at the McArthur Center.
 
Picked to finish seventh in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll (Aug. 24), the Gorillas are coming off a 14-15 overall record last fall in which they claimed the first postseason win since the 2022 season. Head coach Megan Besecker enters her second season at PSU with a 72-25 overall record between her time at Barton Community College and Pitt State. Remi Vargas is back for her second season as an assistant coach as Josie McCroskey rounds out the coaching staff as a first-year graduate assistant.
 
Pittsburg State returns 10 from last season, adding 12 newcomers to make up the 22-member squad for 2026. Leading returners are; Vix Vilott (329 digs, 250 kills), Jesa Wallace (776 assists, 7.12 per set), Maliyah Johnson (251 kills, 292.5 points), Kassidy Nixon (310 digs, 147 kills) and Maddi LaPointe (207 kills, 96 total blocks).
 
Wilmington University (Delaware)
The Wildcats ended the 2025 campaign with a 19-14 overall record, finishing 11-4 in conference play. Picked to finish third in the South Division of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Preseason Poll (Aug. 12), WU made it to the semifinal round of the conference tournament before falling to Bridgeport in three sets.
 
Karla Nunez-Rivera led the team in 2025 for kills (392, 3.19) and points (448.5, 3.65). Morgan Saniels as a defensive specialist is the leading returner for assists, coming away with 47 (0.36) and digs with 408 (3.16) last fall. As a freshman last season, helsea Blaine-Agett led the team with 82 total blocks (0.74).
 
North Greenville University
The Trailblazers ended the 2025 season with a 17-14 overall record, going 12-8 in conference play. Picked to finish fourth in the Preseason Conference Carolinas Poll (Aug. 20), NGU made it to the CC Championship game last fall before falling to Emmanuel University in four sets.
 
Samantha Ball is back after leading the team with 445.0 points (3.80), 389 kills (3.32), 43 service aces (0.37). Allison Ball led the team in assists last campaign with 712 (6.09) and digs with 441 (3.77). Anna Fiddelke rounds out the returning statistical leaders with 100 total blocks (0.85) in 2025.
 
Eckerd College
The Tritons finished the 2025 campaign with a 19-13 overall record, going 9-11 in conference action. Picked to finish sixth in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Poll (Aug. 20), EC ended last fall in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, losing in three sets to No. 3 Barry in the South Regional opening match.
 
Peyton Walker is the leading returner for points (253.0, 2.24) and total blocks (86, 0.76). Kaitlyn Dohs leads all returners with 217 kills (2.11), Grace Dumont will take over setting duties after finishing with 166 assists (4.88) in limited action last season and Sydney Williams led the team in 2025 with 321 digs (3.12).