Lady Wildcats Set for Challenging and Exciting 2026 Volleyball Campaign

MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel University Lady Wildcats will take to the court this fall with an ambitious schedule that features regional rivalries, demanding Mid-South Conference matchups, and a strong slate of non-conference contests designed to prepare the team for postseason play.

The 2026 season opens on August 22 in Memphis as the Lady Wildcats participate in an early-season tournament playing at LeMoyne-Owen College.  Bethel will then travel to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, for tournament action on August 28-29 before returning home to begin the home portion of the schedule. Those opponents will be released later.

The Lady Wildcats make their Crisp Arena debut on September 4 when they host UT Southern at 6 p.m. Bethel fans will have several opportunities to see the team at home during the season, including contests against Fisk University, Williams Baptist, Lane College, and Crowley's Ridge.

Mid-South Conference play begins September 15 when Cumberland University visits Crisp Arena for a key early conference showdown. The conference slate once again promises to be one of the toughest in the NAIA with traditional powers Campbellsville, Lindsey Wilson, Georgetown, the University of the Cumberlands, and Freed-Hardeman all appearing on the schedule.

A challenging late September road trip will send the Lady Wildcats to Kentucky for back-to-back conference matches against Campbellsville and Lindsey Wilson before returning home to host Lane College and begin an important stretch of home matches during October.

The month of October will likely determine postseason positioning as Bethel plays conference home-and-home series with the University of the Cumberlands, Georgetown, Campbellsville, Cumberland, Lindsey Wilson, and Freed-Hardeman. The Lady Wildcats will look to use the home-court advantage of Crisp Arena as they host several crucial conference contests down the stretch.

Bethel closes the regular season on November 3 with a road contest at Freed-Hardeman before turning its attention toward postseason play.

The 2026 Mid-South Conference Tournament is scheduled for November 12-14 in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where the Lady Wildcats hope to be playing their best volleyball of the season as they pursue a conference championship and a berth in the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

The 2026 campaign features 26 regular-season matches, including 12 contests inside the friendly confines of Crisp Arena. With a balanced schedule of experienced conference opponents and competitive non-conference challenges, the Lady Wildcats will have numerous opportunities to showcase their growth and compete for postseason success.

Additional information regarding the Lady Wildcats volleyball program can be found by visiting BethelAthletics.com.

Dates and times remain subject to change. Fans are encouraged to visit BethelAthletics.com throughout the season for schedule updates, match information, and the latest news surrounding Bethel Volleyball.