ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – No. 16 Griffon Volleyball officially opens the 2026 season this weekend with four matches at the Bahama House Classic, hosted by Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida.

MoWest begins the tournament Friday with a pair of matches, taking on St. Edward's at 10:30 a.m. CT before facing host school Embry-Riddle at 6 p.m. CT.

The Griffons return to the court Saturday for two more contests, facing Florida Southern at 10:30 a.m. CT before closing the weekend against Florida Tech at 3:30 p.m. CT.

The Griffons enter 2026 under head coach Jessica Fey, who begins her fifth season at the helm of the program. Fey was named the 2025 MIAA Coach of the Year and Central Region Coach of the Year after leading MoWest to a 21-8 overall record and a 13-3 mark in MIAA play. The Griffons earned a share of the MIAA Regular Season Championship and advanced to the NCAA Central Region tournament.

MoWest returns four All-MIAA honorees from the 2025 season. Right side hitter Taylor Russell earned All-MIAA First Team honors as well as AVCA First Team All-Central Region and AVCA All-American honorable mention accolades. Meanwhile, senior outside hitter Holly Heldt and fellow senior and libero/defensive specialist Anna Weberg were second team all-MIAA picks. Junior OH Noelle Sutcliffe also earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors last season.

MoWest was picked third in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 123 points and two first-place votes. The Griffons also begin the season ranked No. 16 in the AVCA Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Coach on the Rise
MoWest head coach Jessica Fey sits fifth all-time in program history in career wins with a 76-44 record. As a head coach, Fey surpassed 100 career wins last season, putting her all-time career record at 102-97.

For the Record Books
Senior L/DS Anna Weberg sit third all-time in program history with 1725 career digs – just 69 off of the all-time record set by Sarah Faubel (1794 – 2002-05). Her 1725 career digs is also 11^th most amongst all active NCAA Division II players.

Weberg's average of 5.15 digs per set is on pace to be a program record, sitting ahead of assistant coach and former Griffon Kayla Ruff's mark of 4.87.

Postseason Trends
Prior to the 2024 season, Griffon Volleyball had only been to the NCAA tournament three times previously (1995, 2000, 2017). Now, the Griffs have made back-to-back NCAA Central Region tournament brackets for the first time ever.

MoWest also claimed a share of the MIAA regular season title last season – just the second time it's ever happened and the first time since 2017.

Looking Ahead
Following the opening weekend in Florida, MoWest returns to St. Joseph for its home-opening Fairfield Inn Griffon Volleyball Classic, Sept. 3-5 at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Bahama House Classic
Hosted by Embry-Riddle | Daytona Beach, Fla.

Friday, Aug. 28
10:30 a.m. CT – MoWest vs. St. Edward's
6 p.m. CT – MoWest at Embry-Riddle

Saturday, Aug. 29
10:30 a.m. CT – MoWest vs. Florida Southern
3:30 p.m. CT – MoWest vs. Florida Tech