FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (June 23, 2026) - Fresh off a Big Sky Conference regular-season championship, Northern Arizona Volleyball is set for another exciting campaign in 2026, featuring marquee non-conference matchups and a challenging conference schedule.
The Lumberjacks enter the season after a stellar 2025 campaign in which they posted a 23-7 overall record and a 13-3 mark in Big Sky play. NAU also completed an undefeated season inside Rolle Activity Center and was not swept by a single opponent throughout the year.
Northern Arizona opens the 2026 season Aug. 28-30 in Mississippi, where the Lumberjacks will face Southeastern Louisiana, host Ole Miss and LMU.
The following weekend, Sept. 4-5, NAU travels to the SDSU Invitational presented by Canine Country Club for matches against Bradley, South Dakota State and Western Illinois.
The Lumberjacks then return to Flagstaff to host the annual Lumberjack Classic from Sept. 9-11. UC Riverside, Omaha and Grand Canyon will join NAU for the six-match event, giving Lumberjack fans their first opportunity to see this year's squad in action at Rolle Activity Center.
NAU wraps up non-conference play Sept. 17-19 at the USF Challenge in San Francisco, where the 'Jacks will take on California Baptist, San Francisco and Texas Southern.
Big Sky Conference play begins at the end of September as Northern Arizona welcomes the league's newest members to Flagstaff. NAU will host Southern Utah on Sept. 24 and Utah Tech on Sept. 26. Utah Tech begins its inaugural season in the Big Sky in 2026, while Southern Utah returns to the conference for the first time since 2021.
Conference road play begins Oct. 1 with a visit to Idaho State and Weber State on Oct. 3.
Last season, NAU swept the regular-season series against Idaho State, including a 3-0 victory in Pocatello and a memorable Senior Day win in Flagstaff that featured a 44-42 set - the longest set played in NCAA Division I volleyball during the 2025 season and the fifth-longest in NCAA history. The Bengals later avenged those losses with a 3-2 victory over the Lumberjacks in the Big Sky Tournament quarterfinals.
NAU's lone meeting with Weber State last season came in Flagstaff, where the Lumberjacks earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
The Lumberjacks return home the following week to host Montana State on Oct. 8 and Montana on Oct. 10. NAU split the season series with both programs in 2025, winning at home and falling on the road against each opponent.
A second conference road swing begins Oct. 15 at Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash. The 'Jacks swept the Eagles 3-0 in their only meeting last season, one of NAU's 12 sweep victories during the year. Two days later, the Lumberjacks travel to Moscow to face Idaho on Oct. 17. NAU defeated the Vandals twice in 2025, earning a 3-0 home sweep and a 3-2 road victory.
Back in Flagstaff, the Lumberjacks host Portland State on Oct. 20, looking to extend their current three-match winning streak against the Vikings. NAU then quickly returns to the road for a matchup with Northern Colorado on Oct. 22. The Lumberjacks swept the Bears at home last season before retaining the Blue and Gold Battle trophy with a 3-1 victory in the regular-season finale in Greeley. Northern Colorado went on to capture the Big Sky Tournament championship.
NAU closes out October at home with matches against Idaho on Oct. 29 and Eastern Washington on Oct. 31.
November begins with road contests at Montana on Nov. 5 and Montana State on Nov. 7. The Lumberjacks' final home matches of the regular season will come against Weber State on Nov. 12 and Idaho State on Nov. 14, which will also serve as Senior Night.
The regular season concludes with road trips to Utah Tech on Nov. 18 and Southern Utah on Nov. 20.
The 2026 Big Sky Volleyball Championship will be held Nov. 23-25 in Flagstaff, with Northern Arizona serving as host. The Lumberjacks earned hosting rights by capturing the 2025 Big Sky regular-season title.
Season tickets go on sale July 6, while single-match tickets become available July 27.
Stay up to date with Northern Arizona volleyball by following the Lumberjacks on X and Instagram.
Northern Arizona Volleyball 2026 Full Schedule
8/28: Southeastern Louisiana
8/29: at Ole Miss
8/30: LMU
9/4:Â Bradley
9/4: at South Dakota State
9/5: Western Illinois
9/9: UC Riverside
9/10: Omaha
9/11: Grand Canyon
9/17: California Baptist
9/24: Southern Utah
9/26: Utah Tech
10/1: at Idaho State
10/3: at Weber State
10/8: Montana State
10/10: Montana
10/15: at Eastern Washington
10/17: at Idaho
10/20: Portland State
10/22: at Northern Colorado
10/29: Idaho
10/31: Eastern Washington
11/5: at Montana
11/7: at Montana State
11/12: Weber State
11/14: Idaho State
11/18: at Utah Tech
11/20: at Southern Utah
