WASHINGTON - The American University volleyball team announced its 2026 schedule today, consisting of 13 home matches in the program's first year playing in the Meltzer Center. Beginning with a matchup against crosstown rival Georgetown at home on Aug. 28, first-year head coach Jenny Glenn and the Eagles open up one of their most competitive non-conference slates in recent memory. They'll face three power five opponents and two teams coming off NCAA Tournament appearances, all before defending their Patriot League crown when conference play begins on Sept. 18 at Holy Cross.

Opening Weekend

• The Hoyas are a familiar foe, as the Eagles have defeated the fellow D.C. program in 12 of their 17 total matchups, including a 3-0 sweep at home last year. 
• Making the trip from the midwest to the nation's capital are the Northwestern Wildcats, who will face off against AU on Saturday, Aug. 29. It will be just the second-ever matchup between the two teams, and it gives the Eagles a chance to make some noise early in the season with a Big Ten test. 
• To close out the three-match weekend, AU will travel south to take on UVA for the first time since 2015 on Sunday, Aug. 30. 

Hitting the Road

• The Eagles will take to Ohio to play in the Best Western Invitational at Bowling Green from Friday, Sept. 4 to Saturday, Sept. 5. 
• They'll play a doubleheader on Friday with matchups against Northern Kentucky and Bowling Green, then finish the weekend against Arkansas State on Saturday. 
• All three teams are coming off impressive seasons in 2025. Both Bowling Green and Northern Kentucky made their respective conference championship games – the MAC for BGSU and the Horizon League for NKU – and Arkansas State won the Sunbelt. The Red Wolves nearly upset Baylor in the NCAA first round, falling in five sets. 

18th Annual "Bender Blue Out" Pack-the-Place Match

• Returning home, the Eagles will move from the Meltzer Center to Bender Arena to host the 18th annual "Bender Blue Out" against Villanova on Thursday, Sept. 10. Fans are encouraged to wear blue and help break AU's all-time attendance record for an NCAA women's volleyball match in Washington, D.C. (2,837). 
• AU is 3-3 all-time against the Big East opponent dating back to 1994, and the Wildcats are coming off a 20-win season a year ago. 
• The following day, American hosts perennial Big 12 contender Iowa State for the first time in program history. The Cyclones have made the NCAA Tournament in four out of the last five seasons, advancing to the second round of the big dance in 2025. 

Patriot League Play

• Conference play opens on the road, with a weekend of travel that takes the Eagles to Holy Cross on Sept. 18, then to Army on Sept. 19.
• The early road trip is rewarded by five straight home matches from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9. The stretch ends with a matchup against Colgate, the only team to defeat AU in Patriot League play in 2025. 
• Six of the remaining nine games will be played away from home, but the Eagles will end the regular season in the Meltzer Center against Bucknell on Friday, Nov. 13 after they return from Navy the day before. 

The Road to Repeating 

• The Eagles had one of their most dominant seasons in program history last year, going 24-5 and 15-1 in conference play before cruising to their 17th Patriot League title. Returning all 13 players from last year's team, AU has a prime chance to repeat.
• American has never failed to earn a Patriot League Tournament berth, and won 17 of 25 PL championships since entering the conference in 2001. 

Keep up With Us

• For the latest on American University Volleyball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Volleyball), Facebook (/AU.Volleyball) and Instagram (@au_volleyball).