LUBBOCK, Texas (July 2, 2026) – Fresh off the most successful season in their program's NCAA history and entering a new era under first-year head coach Tyler Neal, defending Lone Star Conference regular season co-champion Lubbock Christian University has unveiled its 2026 volleyball schedule. The Lady Chaparrals will play 27 regular-season matches, including 17 Lone Star Conference contests, while seeking a return trip to the NCAA Division II postseason after making the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025.
 
The schedule opens with a pair of exhibition contests before the regular season begins Aug. 28-29 at the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational in Gunnison, Colo. LCU will face New Mexico Highlands and Sul Ross State on opening day before closing the tournament against Southwestern Oklahoma State and host Western Colorado. Their meetings against NMHU (first since 2012) and Western Colorado (first since 2013) will mark their first meetings since LCU became full NCAA Division II members (2015 season).
 
The Lady Chaps continue tournament play the following weekend at the Barry Invitational in Miami Shores, Fla., where they will face St. Cloud State, Lynn, Converse and host Barry from Sept. 3-5. LCU's first trip to Florida since competing at a Palm Beach Atlantic hosted event in 1999 (West Palm Beach, Fla.) will feature first-time meetings against each of the four programs (in program history).
 
LCU will conclude non-conference play Sept. 11-12 at the Lone Star Conference Crossover in San Angelo, Texas, opening against West Texas A&M before facing Angelo State. Although hosted by Angelo State, both matches count as non-conference contests.
 
Conference play begins Sept. 17 at Sul Ross State before the Lady Chaps visit Western New Mexico on Sept. 19. LCU's home opener is scheduled for Sept. 25 against St. Mary's at Rip Griffin Center, beginning a three-match homestand that also includes St. Edward's (Sept. 26) and Eastern New Mexico (Sept. 29).
 
The Lady Chaps final 10 regular season matches (also LSC matches) are split with a five-match homestand followed with a five-match road trip. UT Tyler (Oct. 9), UT Dallas (Oct. 10), Texas A&M International (Oct. 16), Texas A&M-Kingsville (Oct. 17) and West Texas A&M (Oct. 20) will be making stops in Lubbock to open the 10-match stretch, while LCU's final five matches will have them heading to Texas Woman's (Oct. 23), Dallas Baptist (Oct. 24), UT Permian Basin (Oct. 30), Angelo State (Oct. 31) and Midwestern State (Nov. 7).
 
LCU's 17-match conference schedule includes eight home contests and nine road matches. Their eight home matches in LSC play serves as their entire home slate of home games.
 
The 2026 Lone Star Conference Championships begin Nov. 12 at a site to be determined. The NCAA Division II South Central Regional is scheduled for Nov. 19, while the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship will begin Dec. 3 in Kansas City, Mo.
 
The Lady Chaparrals enter the 2026 campaign following a historic 2025 season in which they captured the program's first Lone Star Conference regular-season championship, finished 25-8 overall and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in school history.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES
27 regular-season matches
17 Lone Star Conference matches
8 home conference matches
4 first-time opponents
3 regular-season tournaments
First season under Tyler Neal
Defending Lone Star Conference regular season co-champions
Coming off first NCAA Tournament appearance