TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M's volleyball program will begin its quest to 3-peat as Southwestern Athletic Conference champions this fall, opening a 2026 schedule loaded with tournament tests, a home showcase and a full run through SWAC play. All home matches will be played at Al Lawson Center.

The Rattlers kick off the preseason Aug. 13 at North Florida before hosting an exhibition match on Aug. 23, with the start time set for either 3 or 4 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. FAMU then dives into a stretch of three tournaments in as many weekends. FAMU opens true competition Aug. 28-29 at the AAMU SWAC vs. MEAC Challenge in Huntsville, Alabama, facing Delaware State, UMES and North Carolina Central.

The following week, the Rattlers travel to Jacksonville, Florida, for the JU Tournament, taking on Connecticut, Coastal Carolina and host Jacksonville from Sept. 4-6.

FAMU then returns home to Tallahassee to host its own event, the FAMU Volleyball Tournament, Sept. 10-12. The Rattlers open the tournament Sept. 10 against Louisiana-Lafayette, followed by matches against Florida International on Sept. 11 and Hampton on Sept. 12, with Hampton, FIU and Louisiana-Lafayette also squaring off against each other across the three-day event.

After a road trip to Macon, Georgia, to face Mercer University on Sept. 15, FAMU heads to New Orleans for one more tournament test Sept. 18-19, taking on Cal-State Fullerton, Idaho and New Orleans.

SWAC play begins in earnest Sept. 25, when the Rattlers host Alabama State before welcoming Alabama A&M on Sept. 27. The conference slate carries FAMU through Mississippi Valley State, Jackson State, Bethune-Cookman, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State, Southern University and Alcorn State, with a mix of home dates and road trips across the conference footprint, including stops in Itta Bena and Jackson, Mississippi; Daytona Beach, Florida; Montgomery and Huntsville, Alabama; and Houston and Prairie View, Texas.

FAMU closes the regular season with back-to-back home matches against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 13 and Jackson State on Nov. 15, setting the stage for the SWAC Tournament, slated for Nov. 20-22 in Montgomery, Alabama.

With a title defense on the line, the Rattlers' path back to the SWAC Tournament runs through a schedule built to sharpen the team against nonconference competition before a demanding run through league play.

2026 FAMU VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 13 — at North Florida (Preseason) — Jacksonville, Fla. — 4 p.m. ET
Aug. 23 — Exhibition, opponent TBD — Tallahassee, Fla. — 3 or 4 p.m. ET
Aug. 28 — vs. Delaware State — Huntsville, Ala. (AAMU SWAC vs. MEAC) — 10 a.m. ET
Aug. 28 — vs. UMES — Huntsville, Ala., T.M. Elmore Gym (AAMU SWAC vs. MEAC) — 6 p.m. ET
Aug. 29 — vs. North Carolina Central — Huntsville, Ala., T.M. Elmore Gym (AAMU SWAC vs. MEAC) — 10 a.m. ET
Sept. 4 — vs. Connecticut — Jacksonville, Fla. (JU Tournament) — 4:30 p.m. ET
Sept. 5 — vs. Coastal Carolina — Jacksonville, Fla. (JU Tournament) — 5 p.m. ET
Sept. 6 — vs. Jacksonville — Jacksonville, Fla. (JU Tournament) — 2 p.m. ET
Sept. 10 — vs. Louisiana-Lafayette — Tallahassee, Fla. (FAMU Tournament) — 6 p.m. ET
Sept. 11 — vs. Florida International — Tallahassee, Fla. (FAMU Tournament) — 7 p.m. ET
Sept. 12 — vs. Hampton  — Tallahassee, Fla. (FAMU Tournament) — 10 a.m. ET
Sept. 15 — at Mercer  — Macon, Ga. — 6 p.m. ET
Sept. 18 — vs. Fullerton — New Orleans, La. (New Orleans Tournament) — 12 p.m. ET
Sept. 18 — vs. Idaho — New Orleans, La. (New Orleans Tournament) — 4:30 p.m. ET
Sept. 19 — vs. New Orleans — New Orleans, La. (New Orleans Tournament) — 3 p.m. ET
Sept. 25 — vs. Alabama State — Tallahassee, Fla. — 6 p.m. ET
Sept. 27 — vs. Alabama A&M — Tallahassee, Fla. — 12 p.m. ET
Oct. 2 — at Mississippi Valley State — Itta Bena, Miss. — 7 p.m. ET
Oct. 4 — at Jackson State — Jackson, Miss. — 1 p.m. ET
Oct. 7 — vs. Bethune-Cookman — Tallahassee, Fla. — 6 p.m. ET
Oct. 9 — vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff — Tallahassee, Fla. — 6 p.m. ET
Oct. 11 — vs. Grambling State — Tallahassee, Fla. — 12 p.m. ET
Oct. 16 — at Bethune-Cookman — Daytona Beach, Fla. — 6 p.m. ET
Oct. 23 — vs. Southern — Tallahassee, Fla. — 6 p.m. ET
Oct. 25 — vs. Alcorn State — Tallahassee, Fla. — 12 p.m. ET
Oct. 30 — at Alabama State — Montgomery, Ala. — 7 p.m. ET
Nov. 1 — at Alabama A&M — Huntsville, Ala. — 1 p.m. ET
Nov. 6 — at Texas Southern — Houston, Texas — 7 p.m. ET
Nov. 8 — at Prairie View A&M — Prairie View, Texas — 1 p.m. ET
Nov. 13 — vs. Mississippi Valley State — Tallahassee, Fla. — 6 p.m. ET
Nov. 15 — vs. Jackson State — Tallahassee, Fla. — 12 p.m. ET
Nov. 20-22 — SWAC Tournament — Montgomery, Ala. — TBD