MACOMB, IL. – A mix of early-season tournament play, regional rivalries, and a full Ohio Valley Conference slate highlights the 2026 Western Illinois volleyball schedule, announced Friday. The Leathernecks will compete in multiple in-season tournaments before opening conference play at home and closing the regular season with a key stretch of league matches at Western Hall.
The Leathernecks open the season with a pair of home exhibitions at Western Hall, hosting Valparaiso on August 14 at 4 p.m. and Quincy on August 22 at 2 p.m.
Western Illinois officially begins the regular season on the road at the Missouri Tournament in Columbia, Missouri, facing Missouri (Aug. 28), Towson (Aug. 29), and Idaho (Aug. 30). The Leathernecks continue tournament play the following weekend in Brookings, South Dakota, taking on South Dakota State and Bradley on September 4 before closing the event against Northern Arizona on September 5.
The nonconference slate also includes a trip to Normal, Illinois, for matchups against Illinois State (Sept. 11) and Purdue Fort Wayne (Sept. 12), followed by a two-match series at Green Bay on September 18-19.
Ohio Valley Conference play begins September 25-26 when Western Illinois hosts Southeast Missouri (SEMO) for a two-match series at Western Hall. The Leathernecks then travel to Tennessee State on October 2-3 before returning home to host UT Martin on October 16-17.
Additional conference road swings include trips to Southern Indiana (Oct. 23-24), Eastern Illinois (Nov. 5-6), and Morehead State (Nov. 12-13). Western Illinois will also host SIUE on October 30-31 and close out the regular season at home against Lindenwood on November 17-18.
A nonconference home match is also scheduled for October 9, with the opponent to be announced.
The 2026 schedule features 12 home matches at Western Hall, highlighted by key conference series against SEMO, UT Martin, SIUE, and Lindenwood.
2026 WESTERN ILLINOIS VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Exhibitions
Aug. 14 – vs. Valparaíso – 4 p.m.
Aug. 22 – vs. Quincy – 2 p.m.
Key Nonconference Matches
Aug. 28 – vs. Missouri – 11 a.m.
Aug. 29 – vs. Towson – 11 a.m.
Aug. 30 – vs. Idaho – 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 4 – vs. South Dakota State – 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 – vs. Bradley – 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 – vs. Northern Arizona – 10:30 a.m.
Sept. 11 – at Illinois State – 6 p.m.
Sept. 12 – vs. Purdue Fort Wayne – 1 p.m.
Sept. 18-19 – at Green Bay (two matches)
Conference Highlights
Sept. 25-26 – vs. SEMO
Oct. 2-3 – at Tennessee State
Oct. 16-17 – vs. UT Martin
Oct. 30-31 – vs. SIUE
Nov. 5-6 – at Eastern Illinois
Nov. 12-13 – at Morehead State
Nov. 17-18 – vs. Lindenwood
