Kingsville - The Texas A&M-Kingsville beach volleyball team opens its 2026 season this week, hosting The Javelina Beach Classic presented by The City of Kingsville at the Javelina Beach Volleyball Courts.
The Javelinas enter the new season riding the momentum of a historic 2025 campaign that saw the program post a record-breaking 25 wins and reach the AVCA Small College National Championship semifinals for the first time since 2021. TAMUK defeated Spring Hill College 3-2 in the quarterfinals before falling 3-0 to top-seeded Concordia Irvine in the final four, finishing the year 25-13 overall.
The breakthrough season also produced the program's first-ever AVCA All-Americans, with Rylan Pollard and Liana Huesca earning the honor during the national tournament. Both All-Americans return for 2026, bringing back an experienced and talented core that should provide stability and leadership throughout the lineup.
"We have had some really good practices and I think our girls are ready to play someone different and actually see how they match up to some good DI programs," Head Coach Gary Payne said. "The tournament this weekend will really let me know where our team is at for the season with the good competition that we have coming here to play."
The season begins at home with a four-match slate over two days. The Javelinas will face McNeese State on Friday at noon before taking on Louisiana-Monroe at 4:00 PM. Saturday's action features UTEP at 10:00 AM and Sam Houston at 4:00 PM. Playing at home to open the season provides a valuable advantage as the Javelinas look to establish early momentum and fine-tune combinations. The home crowd will get their first look at how this experienced roster has developed in the offseason and which pairs will anchor the lineup throughout the spring.
Following the home opener, TAMUK embarks on an extended road stretch with tournaments at McNeese State (Feb. 27-28), the UMHBeach Spring Break Bash in Belton, Texas (Mar. 6-7), and the Bayou Beach Duals in New Orleans (Mar. 13-14). The Javelinas return home March 27 for a doubleheader against Mary Hardin-Baylor before traveling to the UCA Spring Break Invitational (Mar. 20-21) and Austin Peay Beach Volleyball Classic (Apr. 3-4). The regular season concludes with the LSU Beach Battle on the Bayou (Apr. 10-11).
The season culminates with the AVCA Small College Beach Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama, from April 17-19. After reaching the semifinals last season with 25 wins and producing the program's first All-Americans, the Javelinas have their sights set on competing for a national championship.
Follow Javelina Beach Volleyball on Instagram, Facebook, and XÂ for live updates throughout the season.
