Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Tulsa on October 30, 2026 at 7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
at Tulsa
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Friday, August 28
Boca Raton, Fla.
10 a.m.
Florida Atlantic
vs
Merrimack
8/27/2026 1:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic volleyball opens its 2026 season this weekend, hosting the Florida Atlantic Invitational on Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena on Friday and Saturday. Along with Florida Atlantic, FIU, Merrimack, and Stetson make up the tournament field.
All Florida Atlantic matches will be broadcast on FAUSports.com, and neutral site matches will be broadcast through FloSports. Fans also can follow the Owls' matches through live stats with links available on FAUSports.com.
Match #1 - Friday, Aug. 28 - Florida Atlantic vs. Merrimack
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Series Record: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Streak: N/A
Livestream: FAUSports.com/Watch
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Match #2 - Friday, Aug. 28 - Florida Atlantic vs. Stetson
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Series Record: 42-5
Last Meeting: 3-0 win (Sept. 19, 2025 – Boca Raton, Fla.)
Streak: Won 5
Livestream: FAUSports.com/Watch
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Match #3 - Saturday, Aug. 29 - Florida Atlantic vs. FIU
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Series Record: 32-37
Last Meeting: 3-0 win (Sept. 3, 2024 – Boca Raton, Fla.)
Streak: Won 1
Livestream: FAUSports.com/Watch
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
A LOOK AT THE OWLS
SCOUTING THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
UP NEXT
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic volleyball, follow @FAUVolleyball on X and Instagram, or like FAU Volleyball on Facebook.
All Florida Atlantic matches will be broadcast on FAUSports.com, and neutral site matches will be broadcast through FloSports. Fans also can follow the Owls' matches through live stats with links available on FAUSports.com.
Match #1 - Friday, Aug. 28 - Florida Atlantic vs. Merrimack
Time: 10 a.m. ET
Series Record: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Streak: N/A
Livestream: FAUSports.com/Watch
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Match #2 - Friday, Aug. 28 - Florida Atlantic vs. Stetson
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Series Record: 42-5
Last Meeting: 3-0 win (Sept. 19, 2025 – Boca Raton, Fla.)
Streak: Won 5
Livestream: FAUSports.com/Watch
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Match #3 - Saturday, Aug. 29 - Florida Atlantic vs. FIU
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Series Record: 32-37
Last Meeting: 3-0 win (Sept. 3, 2024 – Boca Raton, Fla.)
Streak: Won 1
Livestream: FAUSports.com/Watch
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
A LOOK AT THE OWLS
- Florida Atlantic volleyball is entering its 40th season in 2026 and is led by 15-year Head Coach Fernanda Nelson, who has led the Owls to 209 career wins over her previous 14 seasons in Paradise. The Owls have won 18+ games for three consecutive seasons, including a 19-11 finish during the 2025 campaign.
- Junior outside hitter Olivia Hart was named to the 2026 American Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team. The American Second Team All-Conference honoree competed in all 106 sets and played in and started all 30 matches for the Owls a season ago. She led the Owls in kills (385), kills per set (3.63), service aces (41) and service aces per set (0.39), while finishing second on the team in digs (301) and digs per set (4.18). Hart also led the team in double-doubles, posting 12 matches with 10+ kills and digs in 2025.
- The Owls welcome back 10 key returners, as well as adding eight newcomers, including five experienced transfers and three talented freshmen.
- Excluding the shortened 2020 season, 2026 marks the seventh consecutive season the Owls have hosted their season-opening Florida Atlantic Invitational.
- This weekend's matchups will mark the first all-time meeting between Florida Atlantic and Merrimack, as well as the 48th matchup against Stetson and 70th matchup vs. FIU.
- Florida Atlantic was selected fifth in the American Preseason Coaches Poll.
SCOUTING THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
- Merrimack went 9-18 in 2025 and did not advance to the Metro Conference tournament.
- The Warriors only return one of their top five pin hitters from a season ago. Mckenna Shotwell was Merrimack's kills leader, tallying a team-best 268 kills, averaging 2.63 kills per set last season.
- Stetson finished the 2025 season at 9-19 and could not earn a spot in the ASUN conference tournament last season. The Hatters' Zuzanna Bury and Vitoria Stedile earned Preseason All-ASUN honors. Stetson returns three of their top five scorers from the 2025 season. Bury is the Hatters' returning offensive leader, posting a team-best 445 kills and averaging 4.05 kills per set last season. The Hatters also return Xinlei Yang and Kayla Balfour, who averaged 2.15 and 1.28 kills per set a season ago, respectively. The Hatters' starting libero, Stedile, also returns for the 2026 season after finishing with a team-best 424 digs and 3.85 digs per set last season.
- FIU finished 20-12 during the 2025 season, falling in the CUSA Championship final against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The Panthers are entering their first season under new Head Coach Flavia Siqueira, who boasts a 116-82 career record in her seven seasons as a head coach at other programs. FIU's Jillian Huckabey was named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team. Huckabey is the Panthers' leading returning scorer, tallying a team second-best 271 kills and averaging 2.36 kills per set in 2025.
UP NEXT
- Following their season-opening weekend, the Owls will hit the road for the first time in 2026, heading to Fort Myers for the FGCU Invitational on Sept. 3 and 4, taking on FGCU and West Virginia.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic volleyball, follow @FAUVolleyball on X and Instagram, or like FAU Volleyball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballFriday, October 23
Thursday, October 22
Wednesday, October 21
Sunday, October 18