What conference does SMU volleyball play in?

SMU competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), having joined from the American Athletic Conference in 2024.

Who coaches SMU volleyball?

Sam Erger is the head coach. He has built SMU into a consistent NCAA Tournament team through aggressive Texas and California recruiting.

Where is Moody Coliseum?

Moody Coliseum is on the SMU campus in University Park, Dallas, at 6024 Airline Rd.

Rank#8

ACC2026 SeasonMustangs

SMU VolleyballSchedule 2026

Follow the Mustangs on their journey to championship glory. Get the latest schedules, roster updates, and game information.

4-1

Record

Games

Players

Looking for dates, times and locations? Jump straight to the full SMU 2026 slate.

View Schedule

Next MatchAway

SMU

Kentucky

Sat, Sep 12·1:00 pm CT

02Days

11Hours

39Min

49Sec

12AugWed
RV
vsHome
Red vs. Blue Scrimmage
7:00 pm CTMoody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
23AugSun
atAway
#8 Texas A&M
WIN· W 3-0Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
27AugThu
atAway
#10 Penn State (exh.)
WIN· W 2-0AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
27AugThu
atAway
#1 Nebraska (exh.)
LOSS· L 0-2AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
29AugSat
atAway
Colorado State
WIN· W 3-1Fort Collins, CO
30AugSun
UD
atAway
UC Davis
WIN· W 3-2Fort Collins, CO
02SepWed
atAway
TCU
LOSS· L 2-3Fort Worth, Texas
04SepFri
atAway
San Diego
WIN· W 3-1San Diego, CA
09SepWed
vsHome
Texas
8:00 pm CT (TV: ACC Network)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
12SepSat
atAway
Kentucky
1:00 pm CTGrand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas
13SepSun
atAway
Houston or Purdue
TBD (TV: ESPN/2)Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas
17SepThu
R
atAway
Rice
6:30 pm CTSchollmaier Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
19SepSat
Y
vsHome
Yale
1:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
25SepFri
vsHome
Stanford
8:00 pm CT (TV: ACC Network)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
27SepSun
vsHome
California
1:00 pm CT (TV: ACC Network)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
02OctFri
S
atAway
Syracuse
5:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Syracuse, NY
04OctSun
BC
atAway
Boston College
12:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Chestnut Hill, MA
07OctWed
atAway
Pittsburgh
6:00 pm CT (TV: ACC Network)Pittsburgh, PA
11OctSun
vsHome
Pittsburgh
1:00 pm CT (TV: ESPN)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
16OctFri
vsHome
Miami
7:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
18OctSun
vsHome
Florida State
1:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
23OctFri
C
atAway
Clemson
5:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Clemson, SC
25OctSun
atAway
Georgia Tech
12:30 pm CT (TV: ACC Network)Atlanta, GA
30OctFri
NS
atAway
NC State
6:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Raleigh, NC
01NovSun
WF
atAway
Wake Forest
12:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Winston-Salem, NC
06NovFri
vsHome
North Carolina
12:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
08NovSun
D
vsHome
Duke
1:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
12NovThu
vsHome
Louisville
7:00 pm CT (TV: ESPNU)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
15NovSun
ND
vsHome
Notre Dame
1:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
20NovFri
VT
atAway
Virginia Tech
6:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Blacksburg, VA
22NovSun
V
atAway
Virginia
12:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Charlottesville, VA
25NovWed
vsHome
Georgia Tech
1:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Moody Coliseum - Volleyball, Dallas, Texas
28NovSat
atAway
Louisville
12:00 pm CT (TV: ACCNX)Louisville, KY

SMU Volleyball 2026: Season Outlook & Program Overview

Original analysis of the SMU Mustangs program, coaching staff, and 2026 outlook.

2026 Season Outlook

SMU enters 2026 ranked No. 11 in the AVCA preseason poll - the highest preseason ranking in program history - and picked fourth in the ACC by the league's coaches. That is the reward for a 2025 season in which the Mustangs tied a program record with 27 wins, climbed to No. 7 nationally and reached the first Sweet 16 in school history, with signature wins over Louisville, Stanford and a sweep of eventual national champion Texas A&M at Moody in September. The core is back and it got better. Junior middle blocker Favor Anyanwu returns after hitting .409 with 178 total blocks, fifth-most in the country. Joining her is Suli Davis, the BYU transfer who was an AVCA Second Team All-American as a freshman and set the Cougars' freshman kill record with 541. Both were named Preseason All-ACC and both sit on the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List. Head coach Sam Erger built the schedule to match the expectations: nine opponents are ranked in the AVCA preseason top 25, five of them in the top 10, and SMU plays eight of its ten non-conference matches away from Dallas. There is no soft landing anywhere on this slate, which is exactly the point when the NCAA selection committee starts weighing resumes in December.

Program History & Tradition

SMU's 2025 season was the best in program history: 27 wins to tie the program record, a third-place ACC finish, a climb to No. 7 nationally - the highest ranking the program has ever held - and the first Sweet 16 appearance in school history. Along the way the Mustangs beat Louisville and Stanford and swept eventual national champion Texas A&M at Moody Coliseum in September. The 2026 preseason ranking of No. 11 is also a program first. NCAA.com noted that the only two national champions to start a season outside the preseason top 10 - UCLA in 2011 and Stanford in 2016 - were both ranked exactly No. 11.

Head Coach Spotlight

Sam Erger is in his fifth season leading SMU and has taken the program from an American Athletic Conference contender to a top-15 national team in the ACC. His 2025 side tied the program record with 27 wins, finished third in the ACC, reached No. 7 in the national rankings and made the program's first Sweet 16. Erger's staff has been especially effective in the transfer portal - Suli Davis from BYU and Jadyn Livings from USC are the current examples - while continuing to recruit heavily in Texas. Trent Sorensen serves as associate head coach.

What to Watch in 2026

The ACC opener against preseason No. 5 Stanford at Moody Coliseum on September 25 is the loudest statement available before October; SMU beat the Cardinal in 2025. The second annual Showdown at the Net brings No. 2 Texas to Dallas on September 9, the biggest non-conference home ticket of the year. SMU plays preseason No. 4 Pittsburgh twice inside four days, in Pittsburgh on October 7 and at home on October 11. Louisville visits on November 12 in an ESPNU window. And on August 27, Spikes Under the Lights puts SMU alongside Nebraska, Penn State and Florida at AT&T Stadium in an exhibition with a $1 million prize pool. The Paradise Invitational in Nassau on September 12-13 is the first event of its kind held outside the United States.

SMU Volleyball 2026 Schedule Overview

Last updated: August 23, 2026

The 2026 SMU volleyball schedule runs 30 matches - 10 non-conference and 20 in the ACC - from the season opener against Texas A&M in Milwaukee on August 23 to the regular-season finale at Louisville on November 28. Twelve of those matches are at Moody Coliseum in Dallas. SMU opens No. 11 in the AVCA preseason poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history, and was picked fourth in the ACC behind Stanford, Pittsburgh and Louisville. The slate is deliberately punishing: nine opponents are ranked in the AVCA preseason top 25, five of them in the top 10, and eight of the ten non-conference matches are away from Dallas, five at neutral sites across five states and one country. Texas visits Moody on September 9 for the second annual Showdown at the Net, Stanford opens ACC play there on September 25, and Pittsburgh is played twice inside four days in October. The Paradise Invitational at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau on September 12-13 is the first event of its kind held outside the United States, and the September 2 trip to TCU is the first meeting between the schools since 2021. Full dates, times, TV assignments, venues and results are below.

SMU opens the season August 23 against No. 8 Texas A&M at the Jeep AVCA First Serve at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, on ESPN2.

SMU Volleyball 2026 Photo Gallery

SMU Mustangs volleyball players huddling and celebrating a point during the 2026 season — Team huddle between points

SMU volleyball team celebrating a match win in front of the Pony Up Dallas banner at Moody Coliseum — Celebrating a hard-earned point

SMU Mustangs volleyball players in red jerseys regrouping at the net after a rally — On court during the 2026 season

SMU volleyball team and coaching staff posing together on court after an ACC road win — Posing before the 2026 season

TV & Streaming Information

Every ACC conference match is carried by ACC Network or ACC Network Extra (ACCNX). Selected matches appear on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, including the season opener against Texas A&M on ESPN2, Pittsburgh at home on October 11 on ESPN, and Louisville on November 12 on ESPNU. The Spikes Under the Lights exhibition at AT&T Stadium airs on TNT. Non-conference road matches stream on the host school's platform; the Colorado State match on August 29 streams on YouTube. ACC Network is available on Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream, and ACCNX streams through the ESPN app with a TV provider login. Networks are typically confirmed 7 to 10 days before each match; the table above is updated as assignments are announced.

Top Games to Watch

Stanford at SMU
Friday, September 25
The ACC opener against the conference's preseason favorite and national No. 5. SMU beat Stanford in 2025; doing it again at home would be the loudest statement available before October.
Texas at SMU
Wednesday, September 9
The second annual Showdown at the Net brings preseason No. 2 Texas to Moody Coliseum. The biggest non-conference home ticket of the year.
Pittsburgh at SMU
Sunday, October 11
The back half of a home-and-home with preseason No. 4 Pitt inside four days. Split the pair and SMU's ACC ceiling stays intact; sweep it and the conference race changes shape.
Louisville at SMU
Thursday, November 12
A Thursday-night ESPNU window against preseason No. 7 Louisville, a team SMU beat in 2025.
Spikes Under the Lights, AT&T Stadium
Thursday, August 27
An exhibition, but not a small one: SMU, Nebraska, Penn State and Florida in an NFL stadium with a $1 million prize pool. The first event of its kind.

Key Players to Know

Favor Anyanwu

Middle Blocker

Junior from Rowlett, Texas and a Preseason All-ACC pick on the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List. Started all 33 matches in 2025 with 206 kills at .409, the second-best single-season hitting percentage in program history, and 178 total blocks, fifth nationally. Three-time gold medalist with Team USA.

Suli Davis

Outside Hitter

Sophomore from Euless, Texas who transferred from BYU, where she was an AVCA Second Team All-American as a freshman with 541 kills, a program freshman record, and 30 double-digit-kill matches. Named Best Outside Hitter at the 2025 FIVB U19 World Championship and a 2026 U.S. U21 National Team member.

Jadyn Livings

Outside Hitter

Junior from The Colony, Texas, a transfer addition from USC who adds experienced depth to the pin rotation.

Elle Vandeweghe

Middle Blocker

Freshman at 6-foot-5, part of a newcomer group that also includes Bojana Ambulija, Levariya Pinder and Victoria Shupe alongside transfers Victoria Harris and Gabi Placide.

Venue Information

Moody Coliseum, 6024 Airline Rd, Dallas, TX 75205, on the SMU campus in University Park. The building opened in 1956 and was renovated in 2013. Doors open approximately 60 minutes before first serve and free parking is available in the Binkley Garage on home match nights. SMU hosts 12 matches here in 2026, including Texas, Stanford, Pittsburgh, Louisville, North Carolina and Notre Dame.

Season Expectations

SMU opens at No. 11 nationally, its highest preseason ranking ever, and fourth in an ACC that placed four teams in the AVCA preseason top 11. The floor is a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance; the ceiling is a first regional final, built on returning Favor Anyanwu and adding AVCA All-American Suli Davis. The schedule is the argument either way - nine ranked opponents and eight of ten non-conference matches away from Dallas will produce a resume with no ambiguity in it by December. NCAA.com noted that the only two national champions to start outside the preseason top 10, UCLA in 2011 and Stanford in 2016, were both ranked exactly No. 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conference does SMU volleyball play in?: SMU competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), having joined from the American Athletic Conference in 2024.
Who coaches SMU volleyball?: Sam Erger is the head coach. He has built SMU into a consistent NCAA Tournament team through aggressive Texas and California recruiting.
Where is Moody Coliseum?: Moody Coliseum is on the SMU campus in University Park, Dallas, at 6024 Airline Rd.

Leadership · Staff

SMU Volleyball Coaches 2026

The leadership behind SMU Mustangs volleyball success

SE
Sam Erger
Head Coach5 years
Sam Erger is in his fifth season leading SMU. In 2025 the Mustangs tied a program record with 27 wins, finished third in the ACC, climbed to No. 7 nationally and reached the first Sweet 16 in school history, with signature wins over Louisville, Stanford and eventual national champion Texas A&M.
TS
Trent Sorensen
Associate Head Coach0 years
Associate head coach on Sam Erger's staff.
CB
Christa Branson
Director of Player Personnel / Recruiting Coordinator0 years
Directs player personnel and coordinates recruiting for the Mustangs.
DA
Diego Aguilar
Assistant Coach0 years
Assistant coach on the SMU staff.
CB
Clayton Bristow
Assistant Coach0 years
Assistant coach on the SMU staff.
AC
Anthony Cockrill
Director of Volleyball Sports Performance0 years
Leads strength, conditioning and sports performance for SMU volleyball.
CB
Carissa Barnes
Director of Operations0 years
Directs day-to-day operations for the program.

The Squad · Roster

SMU Volleyball Roster 2026

Meet the 15 athletes on the SMU Mustangs volleyball team

Outside Hitter

4 players

Suli Davis

Sophomore · 6'2"

Euless, TX

Jadyn Livings

Junior · 6'1"

The Colony, TX

—

Christa Wilburn

— · 6'2"

—

Levariya Pinder

Freshman · 5'10"

—

Opposite

2 players

—

Bojana Ambulija

Freshman · —

—

Gabi Placide

— · 6'1"

—

Middle Blocker

4 players

—

Favor Anyanwu

Junior · 6'2"

Rowlett, TX

—

Brooke Gilmour

— · 6'1"

—

Natalia Newsome

— · 5'11"

—

Elle Vandeweghe

Freshman · 6'5"

—

Setter

2 players

—

Ava Sarafa

— · 6'0"

—

Hannah Beauford

— · 5'11"

—

Defensive Specialist

2 players

—

Mia Silva

— · 5'9"

—

Victoria Shupe

Freshman · —

—

Libero

1 players

—

Victoria Harris

— · —

—

Fan Guide · FAQ

SMU Volleyball FAQ 2026

Everything you need to know about SMU Mustangs volleyball

Where do the Mustangs play home games?

The SMU Mustangs play their home volleyball matches at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas, which provides an electric atmosphere for every home match.

How can I purchase tickets?

Tickets can be purchased through the SMU Athletics website, at the Moody Coliseum box office, or through authorized ticket resellers.

What time do doors open for matches?

Doors typically open 60 minutes before the scheduled match time. We recommend arriving early for the best seating options.

What conference is SMU in?

SMU competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), facing teams like Louisville, Pittsburgh, Stanford, and Notre Dame in conference play.

Where can I find the full SMU Volleyball Schedule 2026?

The complete 2026 SMU volleyball schedule with every Mustangs match, opponent, date, time and location is listed on this page above. It is updated whenever the athletic department confirms new times, TV assignments or venue changes.

What is SMU's record right now?

3-0. SMU opened the regular season by sweeping #8 Texas A&M 3-0 in Milwaukee, then won at Colorado State 3-1 and beat UC Davis 3-2 in Fort Collins. The two August 27 exhibitions at the Spikes Under the Lights showcase do not count toward the record.

When does the SMU Mustangs volleyball season start in 2026?

SMU's regular season began August 23 with a 3-0 win over #8 Texas A&M at the Jeep AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee. The Mustangs also played exhibition matches against Penn State and Nebraska on August 27 at AT&T Stadium before traveling to Fort Collins for matches against Colorado State and UC Davis. ACC play starts September 25 against Stanford.

Where do the Mustangs play their home volleyball matches?

SMU plays home volleyball matches at Moody Coliseum in Dallas. The arena hosts every home date on the 2026 schedule, and doors typically open about an hour before first serve.

How can I watch SMU volleyball games in 2026?

Most 2026 Mustangs matches air on ACC network partners (ESPN, ESPN+, Big Ten Network, ACC Network, SEC Network or FS1 depending on the game). Each row on the schedule above shows the confirmed TV or streaming outlet as soon as it is announced.

Who are SMU's biggest 2026 volleyball opponents?

The 2026 schedule features ACC rivalry matches plus marquee non-conference tests. See the schedule table on this page for every Mustangs opponent, dates and locations for the full 2026 season.

Season Storylines

2026 SMU Volleyball Season

ACC Schedule

SMU faces the toughest conference in the nation, battling rivals like Louisville, Pittsburgh, Stanford, and Notre Dame throughout the ACC season.

Home Games at Moody Coliseum

Experience the electric atmosphere at Moody Coliseum where SMU volleyball draws enthusiastic crowds and creates an unmatched home court advantage.

NCAA Tournament Path

Follow SMU's journey through the NCAA Tournament as the Mustangs compete for deep postseason runs and establish themselves among the nation's elite.

Where to Watch

Where to Watch SMU Volleyball

Moody Coliseum

Address: 3104 SMU Blvd, Dallas, TX 75205

Capacity: 7,000 fans

Moody Coliseum has been the home of SMU volleyball, providing an electric and intimate atmosphere for every home match.

TV & Streaming

Networks: ACC Network, ESPN, ESPN2

Streaming: ACC Network Extra, ESPN+

Can't make it to Dallas? Catch every SMU volleyball match on television or streaming platforms.

Heritage · Legacy

SMU Volleyball Program History

The SMU Mustangs women's volleyball program has rapidly risen to become one of the elite programs in the nation. Under head coach Sam Erger, SMU has joined the ACC and immediately made an impact.

The Mustangs have produced numerous All-Americans and have established themselves as a competitive force in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The program's commitment to excellence has made SMU a destination for top recruits.

SMU volleyball has created one of the most passionate fanbases in college volleyball. Moody Coliseum provides an intimate yet electric atmosphere for every home match.

Go Mustangs

Pony Up!

Join thousands of Mustang fans supporting SMU volleyball

SMU VolleyballSchedule 2026