WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Coming off a Mountain East Conference North Division championship and an 18-win season, the West Liberty University volleyball team has announced its schedule for the 2026 campaign. Head coach Makenzy Johnson enters her third season at the helm of the Hilltopper program after guiding West Liberty to an 18-13 record in 2025, including a 10-4 mark in MEC play and the program's first MEC North Division title. Johnson owns a 33-28 overall record and a 19-9 conference mark through her first two seasons on the hilltop.

The 2026 schedule features 29 regular-season matches, including 10 home contests inside the ASRC and a challenging non-conference slate that will prepare the Hilltoppers for another run at conference success. West Liberty opens the season August 28-29 at the University of Indianapolis Invitational. The Hilltoppers will take on Saginaw Valley State and host Indianapolis on the opening day before facing Thomas More and Walsh on day two. The following weekend, West Liberty travels to Indiana University of Pennsylvania for another strong early-season tournament. The Hilltoppers will meet host IUP and Daemen on Sept. 4 before wrapping up the event against Lake Erie and Ashland on Sept. 5.

The regular season continues with a Sept. 8 road match at Shepherd before West Liberty hosts its annual home tournament Sept. 11-12. The Hilltoppers welcome California (Pa.), Clarion, Gannon and Shippensburg to the ASRC for four matches over two days. A non-conference trip to Ohio Dominican on Sept. 15 serves as the final tune-up before conference play begins.

The MEC schedule gets underway Sept. 18 when Charleston visits the ASRC. West Liberty will also host Point Park (Sept. 29), Frostburg State (Oct. 2), Shawnee State (Oct. 16), Concord (Oct. 17), Davis & Elkins (Oct. 20), Fairmont State (Oct. 30) and Wheeling (Nov. 5). Road conference contests include trips to Davis & Elkins (Sept. 22), Fairmont State (Sept. 25), Wheeling (Oct. 6), Glenville State (Oct. 9), West Virginia Wesleyan (Oct. 10), West Virginia State (Oct. 23), Point Park (Oct. 26) and Frostburg State (Nov. 2).

The regular season concludes Nov. 5 when West Liberty hosts Wheeling on Senior Night in a matchup that could have significant implications in the MEC standings. The Mountain East Conference Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 12-14, with the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional set for Nov. 19-21. After capturing the MEC North Division crown in 2025, the Hilltoppers will look to build on that momentum and continue their rise among the region's top programs during the 2026 season.

2026 West Liberty Volleyball Schedule

August 28 (Indianapolis, Ind.)
vs. Saginaw Valley State – 9 a.m.
at Indianapolis – 4:30 p.m.
August 29 (Indianapolis, Ind.)
vs. Thomas More – 11:30 a.m.
vs. Walsh – 4:30 p.m.
September 4 (Indiana, Pa.)
at IUP – 11 a.m.
vs. Daemen – 5 p.m.
September 5 (Indiana, Pa.)
vs. Lake Erie – 9 a.m.
vs. Ashland – 3 p.m.
September 8
at Shepherd – 7 p.m.
September 11
vs. California (Pa.) – 10 a.m.
vs. Clarion – 3 p.m.
September 12
vs. Gannon – Noon
vs. Shippensburg – 5 p.m.
September 15
at Ohio Dominican – 7 p.m.
September 18
Charleston – 7 p.m.
September 22
at Davis & Elkins – 7 p.m.
September 25
at Fairmont State – 7 p.m.
September 29
Point Park – 7 p.m.
October 2
Frostburg State – 7 p.m.
October 6
at Wheeling – 7 p.m.
October 9
at Glenville State – 6 p.m.
October 10
at West Virginia Wesleyan – 1 p.m.
October 16
Shawnee State – 7 p.m.
October 17
Concord – Noon
October 20
Davis & Elkins – 7 p.m.
October 23
at West Virginia State – 7 p.m.
October 26
at Point Park – 7 p.m.
October 30
Fairmont State – 7 p.m.
November 2
at Frostburg State – 7 p.m.
November 5
Wheeling – 7 p.m. (Senior Night)
November 12-14
MEC Tournament
November 19-21
NCAA Atlantic Regional