Kingsville - After a 3-1 start to the season at the Union Volleyball Classic in Jackson, TN last weekend, the Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team is set to play its first matches of the season in the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center (SPEC) as they host the Javelina Volleyball Classic.

The team had its two star right side hitters, seniors Rylan Pollard and Kendall Harrington, make the All-Tournament Team following stellar individual weekends, which fueled a great overall team performance, with wins over Harding, Lane, and Drury. 

The team will now get its first opportunity to play regular season matches in front of a home crowd as it faces off against Southern Arkansas (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.), Lake Erie College (Friday, 12:00 p.m.), Southeastern Oklahoma State (Friday, 6:30 p.m.), and Bridgeport College (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.). 

Southern Arkansas

The Muleriders have started the year 1-4, facing tough competition at the 2025 Gorilla Classic in Pittsburg, KS, before returning home to sweep Central Baptist College in their home opener on Tuesday.

Despite facing difficult opponents, particularly in its first tournament of the year, Southern has proved itself a worthy defense early in the year, averaging the fourth-fewest opponent assists in the Great American Conference with 11.17, as well as the fourth-fewest opponent kills in the conference with 11.78. The team's opponent block numbers are stellar as well, with 1.39/s. Offensively, junior OH Brinklee Dauenhauer leads the team with 2.59 kills/s, which she pairs with 2.59 digs/s. 

Lake Erie

The Storm have started the year strong, bringing a 3-1 overall record into the tournament after a pair of wins at the Hall of Fame City Challenge in North Canton, OH, before beating Central State in five sets at the team's home opener on Tuesday. 

After their competition at the JVC, the team will return home to begin Great Midwest Athletic Conference play, a conference in which they rank third in both blocks and service aces so far in the young season. Their 2.13 b/s and their 1.69 aces/s, along with their stellar, 0.139 opponent hitting percentage, highlight the team's strengths early in non-confenence play. Erie's serve receive has been almost as good as its service as the team's opponent service aces rank third fewest in the G-MAC.

Southeastern Oklahoma Sate

The Savage Storm are 2-2 on the year so far, beginning their season at the Midwestern State Invitational where they were swept twice by Lone Star Conference Opponents before finishing their weekend by losing just one total set between their two sins over William Jewell and Newman.

Overall, the team's offense has been strong to start the season, averaging the third-most assists in the GAC with 11.38, and the fourth-most kills per set with 12.15. While its defense hasn't always been stellar early, the team boasts an excellent opponent hitting percentage of 0.163 (second in the GAC).

Bridgeport

The Knights have played just one match so far this year, the fewest of any team competing at the JVC this year. The team travelled to Pace in Pleasantville, NY, falling in a tight, five-set match. They enter competition looking for their first win of the year, and will look to continue its defensive momentum from a gritty match in which the team held Pace to a .114 team hitting percentage.