Ohio volleyball’s 2026 regular season officially begins Friday, as the team is set to compete in the Marshall Invitational in Huntington, West Virginia. The Bobcats take on three opponents in two days: Bucknell University and Niagara University both on Friday, followed by Marshall University on Saturday.
Match one and two Information:
Opponents: Bucknell Bulls & Niagara Purple Eagles
Location: Cam Henderson Center (Huntington, West Virginia)
Times: Friday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
There are no broadcasts listed for these matchups. Follow live stats here
Match three Information:
Opponent: Marshall Thundering Herd
Location: Cam Henderson Center (Huntington, West Virginia)
Time: Saturday at 5 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Follow live stats here
Ohio looks to start the season strong after preparing themselves against a pair of high-level opponents in the preseason slate, third-ranked Kentucky and Ohio State. The experience gained from facing those two teams could give the Bobcats an early edge to capitalize on against their opponents in the Marshall Invitational.
The Bobcats have an impressive list of returners from last season who will be eager to begin the season on the right note after a disappointing overall record of 14-17 in 2025. Coach Kenzie Brinkman is also entering her first season as full-time head coach after being elevated from her interim position at the end of last season. There is a lot to be excited about for Ohio volleyball heading into the 2026 campaign.
Player Spotlight
Ohio: Middle blocker Emily Waddell is back with the Bobcats for her senior season. Waddell had a very productive 2025 season, racking up 215 kills and a team-high 106 blocks. Those stats earned her a spot on the All-MAC First Team, and she was also recently named to the 2026 Pre-Season All-MAC Team.
Waddell will surely be hungry to capitalize on her success last season and live up to that pre-season honor, making her a name to watch as the season kicks off this weekend in Huntington.
Bucknell: The Bison’s leader in both kills and blocks last season, senior Sidney Shaffer, highlights Bucknell’s roster yet again. A monstrous combination of 288 kills and 80 blocks earned Shaffer a spot on the 2025 First Team All-Patriot League.
Shaffer plays middle blocker, just like Ohio’s Waddell, setting up what could be an entertaining matchup up front in both teams’ first match of the season.
Niagara: Setter Noel Perkins is entering her junior year with Niagara after a standout sophomore season in which she tallied the team’s second-most assists with 324 and also recorded 137 digs defensively.
Perkins projects to be a centerpiece of the Purple Eagles’ squad this season and could build on that breakthrough sophomore season to cement herself as a star on both sides of the ball early on, beginning in Huntington this weekend.
Marshall: Outside hitter Emma Barnett led the Thundering Herd in both kills and total points in 2025, with 381 points and 331 kills. As a freshman, she was one of only two members of her team to earn postseason honors for her play, being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team.
As she returns for her sophomore season, she is sure to continue that dominance on Marshall’s home court, especially against the rival Bobcats on Saturday. Keep an eye out for Barnett to be a standout name in the Marshall Invitational and all season long.
Weekend Outlook
All of these teams are hungry to start their seasons with multiple wins, as none of the four finished with winning records in 2025. Ohio finished last season at 14-17 overall, Bucknell finished 12-14, Niagara finished 12-15 and Marshall finished 15-15. The Marshall Invitational might be a great opportunity for all of these teams to test themselves and work out the early kinks.
For the Bobcats, entering a season with a first-year permanent head coach always comes with its ups and downs, but Brinkman has plenty of experience from her time as interim, and her roster is certainly talented enough to compete at a high level this weekend and all season long. There is a lot to be excited about for Ohio volleyball fans ahead of the 2026 season.
@JackMuldowney1
