2026 Seaon Preview
Terica Peay
Lady Panthers Volleyball Set for 2026 Season Under Third-Year Head Coach Lauren Calvin
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The Claflin University volleyball team gears up for the 2026 season, blending a mix of seasoned players, fresh talent, and strong leadership as head coach Lauren Calvin embarks on her third season with the Lady Panthers. The team returns ten student-athletes from the previous year, including two standout players named to the 2026 CIAA Preseason All-Conference Team: utility player
Aryanna Connell and outside hitter
Grayson Graham. Their experience will play a crucial role as the Lady Panthers aim to make a significant impact this season.
Connell and Graham earned recognition as two of the top returning players in the conference during the CIAA preseason voting, and their leadership will be vital as Claflin navigates its challenging schedule, which includes tournament play, non-conference matchups, and a full slate of CIAA competition. Alongside the returning roster, Claflin also welcomes two transfers and two freshmen, adding a dynamic blend of experience and youthful energy to the team.
Coach Calvin will have a familiar ally this season in Dr. Jessica Livingston, a former teammate, who joins the coaching staff and brings valuable insight and experience to the program. The 2026 roster showcases student-athletes hailing from various regions, including seven from South Carolina, four from North Carolina, one from Maryland, and one from Georgia.
The Lady Panthers have a well-rounded lineup, featuring one setter, three defensive specialists/liberos, four middle blockers, three outside hitters, and two right-side hitters. Claflin will begin its competitive season on Thursday, August 27, by participating in the RCRC College Tournament in Columbia. They will compete against Allen University, Benedict College, and USC Union.
The official season opener is set for Tuesday, September 1, as Claflin hosts Paine College in Orangeburg for their first home match. Following that, the Lady Panthers will hit the road for consecutive weekends of tournaments—first traveling to Albany, Georgia, for the Black Excellence Volleyball Showcase on September 4-5, then heading to Memphis, Tennessee, for the Christian Brothers Invitational on September 11-12.
Claflin will wrap up its non-conference schedule with a home-and-away series against Garden City rival South Carolina State; the Bulldogs will host the Lady Panthers on September 15 before returning home for the return match on September 16. Conference play officially kicks off on September 21, when the Lady Panthers head to Salisbury, North Carolina, to face Livingstone College. They will return home on September 24 to host Johnson C. Smith University.
Throughout the CIAA schedule, Claflin will meet each conference opponent twice, with two round-up weekends on the calendar. The first round-up tournament is scheduled for October 2-4 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, followed by a second round-up on October 16-18 in Ettrick, Virginia. As the regular season draws to a close, the Lady Panthers are determined to finish strong at home, with their last match on Thursday, November 5, against Livingstone College serving as Senior Day.
The 2026 CIAA Volleyball Championship is scheduled to take place November 9-11 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. With a strong veteran core, two preseason All-CIAA selections, and a blend of new and returning talent, Coach Calvin is focused on building upon the foundation of Claflin volleyball this season. For the Lady Panthers, the 2026 season offers a unique opportunity to turn their experience into success and to develop as a cohesive unit throughout the year.
2026 Claflin Volleyball Schedule
- Aug. 27: RCRC College Tournament — Columbia, S.C. (Exhibition)
- Sept. 1: Paine College — Claflin
- Sept. 4-5: Black Excellence Volleyball Showcase — Albany, Ga.
- Sept. 11-12: Christian Brothers Invitational — Memphis, Tenn.
- Sept. 15: South Carolina State — Orangeburg, S.C.
- Sept. 16: South Carolina State — Claflin
- Sept. 21: Livingstone College - Salisbury, N.C.
- Sept. 24: Johnson C. Smith - Claflin
- Sept. 28: Fayetteville State – Fayetteville, N.C.
- Oct. 2-4: CIAA Round-Up - Winston-Salem, N.C.
- Oct. 8: Bluefield State – Bluefield, WV
- Oct. 12: Johnson C. Smith – Charlotte, N.C.
- Oct. 16-18: CIAA Round-Up - Ettrick, Va.
- Oct. 22: Winston-Salem State - Claflin
- Oct. 26: Fayetteville State – Claflin
- Oct. 29: Bluefield State – Claflin
- Oct. 31: Paine College- Augusta, Ga.
- Nov. 2: Winston-Salem State – Winston-Salem, N.C.
- Nov. 5: Livingstone College - Claflin | Senior Day
- Nov. 9-11: CIAA Volleyball Championship - Rocky Mount, N.C.
Stay Connected
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About Claflin University Athletics
Claflin University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II institution that sponsors 13 intercollegiate sports. The university's athletic program includes volleyball; women's flag football; men's and women's cross country; men's and women's basketball; softball; men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field; and baseball. Claflin's teams compete primarily in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), while the baseball program competes in the Peach Belt Conference.
