Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Volleyball to Host Four Non-Conference Games in Preseason Stretch
7/8/2026 5:16:00 PM | Volleyball
CMU Volleyball will travel to three non-conference tournaments, while hosting four matches in McGuirk Arena prior to MAC play.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – After playing zero non-conference matches in McGuirk Arena in 2025, Central Michigan Volleyball is set to host four ahead of the 2026 conference slate. The team will also travel to three tournaments in different areas of the country.
Second-year head coach, Arielle Wilson announced the 2026 non-conference schedule for Central Michigan Volleyball on Wednesday afternoon.
The 2026 season will begin on August 28 when the team heads to Pullman, Wash. to participate in the Cougar Invitational. While out west, CMU will take on Montana, Omaha and host Washington State. Against the teams in the field, CMU is 3-4, most recently playing Omaha in the 2015, walking away with a 3-0 victory in Mount Pleasan.
The following weekend brings the Chippewas back to McGuirk Arena to host Oakland, Illinois State, and Michigan State. CMU will take on the four opponents over the weekend of September 2 in the Heart of the Mitt Invitational. Central Michigan is 23-4 against Oakland in the 27 total meetings, most recently falling in five sets to the Golden Grizzlies in 2021. The combined record for CMU against the three opponents is 59-29-2.
Central Michigan will then head to Chicago to participate in the DePaul/UIC invitational. At the tournament, CMU will face the two host teams, along with Auburn. Those games are slated to be played September 11 and 12 in the Windy City. The Chippewas are 6-15 against teams in the field in Chicago.
On September 18, the non-conference schedule will conclude with three matches in Miami, Fla. CMU will take on Jacksonville, Alabama A&M and the host team, Florida International. Jacksonville and FIU are first time opponents for the Chippewas, and CMU faced Alabama A&M in 2008, walking away with a 3-0 victory.
Central Michigan's Mid-American Conference schedule was released on April 29.
The full non-conference schedule for CMU is below:
Cougar Invitational – Pullman, Wash.
8.28 – Montana
8.29 – Omaha
8.30 – at Washington State
The Heart of the Mitt Invitational – Mount Pleasant, Mich.
9.2 – Oakland
9.4 – Illinois State
9.5 – Illinois State
9.5 – Michigan State
DePaul/UIC Invitational – Chicago, Ill.
9.11 – at DePaul
9.12 – Auburn
9.12 – at UIC
305 Challenge – Miami, Fla.
9.18 – at FIU
9.18 – Jacksonville
9.19 – Alabama A&M
MAC Schedule
9.22 – Eastern Michigan
9.26 – Ohio
9.29 – at Western Michigan
10.3 – at Eastern Michigan
10.9 – at Miami
10.10 – at Ball State
10.14 – Kent State
10.15 – Kent State
10.23 –at Bowling Green
10.24 – at Bowling Green
10.30 – Buffalo
10.31 – Buffalo
11.6 – at Akron
11.7 – at Akron
11.13 – Toledo
11.14 – Western Michigan
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
Second-year head coach, Arielle Wilson announced the 2026 non-conference schedule for Central Michigan Volleyball on Wednesday afternoon.
The 2026 season will begin on August 28 when the team heads to Pullman, Wash. to participate in the Cougar Invitational. While out west, CMU will take on Montana, Omaha and host Washington State. Against the teams in the field, CMU is 3-4, most recently playing Omaha in the 2015, walking away with a 3-0 victory in Mount Pleasan.
The following weekend brings the Chippewas back to McGuirk Arena to host Oakland, Illinois State, and Michigan State. CMU will take on the four opponents over the weekend of September 2 in the Heart of the Mitt Invitational. Central Michigan is 23-4 against Oakland in the 27 total meetings, most recently falling in five sets to the Golden Grizzlies in 2021. The combined record for CMU against the three opponents is 59-29-2.
Central Michigan will then head to Chicago to participate in the DePaul/UIC invitational. At the tournament, CMU will face the two host teams, along with Auburn. Those games are slated to be played September 11 and 12 in the Windy City. The Chippewas are 6-15 against teams in the field in Chicago.
On September 18, the non-conference schedule will conclude with three matches in Miami, Fla. CMU will take on Jacksonville, Alabama A&M and the host team, Florida International. Jacksonville and FIU are first time opponents for the Chippewas, and CMU faced Alabama A&M in 2008, walking away with a 3-0 victory.
Central Michigan's Mid-American Conference schedule was released on April 29.
The full non-conference schedule for CMU is below:
Cougar Invitational – Pullman, Wash.
8.28 – Montana
8.29 – Omaha
8.30 – at Washington State
The Heart of the Mitt Invitational – Mount Pleasant, Mich.
9.2 – Oakland
9.4 – Illinois State
9.5 – Illinois State
9.5 – Michigan State
DePaul/UIC Invitational – Chicago, Ill.
9.11 – at DePaul
9.12 – Auburn
9.12 – at UIC
305 Challenge – Miami, Fla.
9.18 – at FIU
9.18 – Jacksonville
9.19 – Alabama A&M
MAC Schedule
9.22 – Eastern Michigan
9.26 – Ohio
9.29 – at Western Michigan
10.3 – at Eastern Michigan
10.9 – at Miami
10.10 – at Ball State
10.14 – Kent State
10.15 – Kent State
10.23 –at Bowling Green
10.24 – at Bowling Green
10.30 – Buffalo
10.31 – Buffalo
11.6 – at Akron
11.7 – at Akron
11.13 – Toledo
11.14 – Western Michigan
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
Wednesday, August 27
Tuesday, August 26
Tuesday, August 26
Sunday, August 24