Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Iowa
Volleyball Opens 2026 Season Inside Christl Arena, Hosting Black Knight Invitational
August 27, 2026 | Volleyball
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point volleyball will open its 2026 campaign this weekend, hosting the Black Knight Invitational inside Christl Arena from August 28-30.
The tournament inside Christl Arena will mark the first time since 2015 that volleyball has played a regular season game inside the facility. The last time in 2015, the Black Knights hosted Iona, William and Mary alongside Cornell, where Army went 3-0.
First, Army will host Power Four and Big 10 school, Iowa, who returns to West Point for the first time since the 2009 season. First serve inside Christl Arena is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. ET.
The Black Knights will play Sacred Heart the following day, Aug. 29, with the match slated to start at 12 p.m. ET. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. ET, with Army hosting UAlbany.
Admission is free for all games inside Christl Arena. For fans who cannot make it to West Point, all three of Army matchups will stream live on ESPN+.
ARMY STORYLINES:
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR: The seven-time Patriot League regular-season champions will look to secure their eighth title after finishing the 2025 season 19-9 overall and 11-5 in league play, placing third overall in the Patriot League standings. Army will look to capture its sixth Patriot League Tournament title after falling to top-seeded American in the 2025 championship match as the No. 3 seed. Army finished 6-3 in non-conference play, their wins encompass victories over Akron (3-0), Green Bay (3-2), Rider (3-1), Binghamton (3-1), Stony Brook (3-1) and Bryant (3-1).
PRESEASON OUTLOOK: The Patriot League released its preseason team as well as it preseason poll on August 19. Juliette Myrick received a preseason team nod for the first time in her collegiate career following a strong junior year campaign. She was named Second Team All-Patriot League in 2025 after logging two triple-doubles over the 2025 season plus 123 kills, 566 assists, 17 aces, 232 digs, three solo blocks, 33 block assists and 36.0 total blocks. The Black Knights were also voted to finish third in the Patriot League standings, earning 45 points.
JACK OF ALL TRADES: Juliette Myrick, the lone senior on Army's roster this season, recorded two triple-doubles over the 2025 season and logged 123 kills, 566 assists, 17 aces, 232 digs, three solo blocks, 33 block assists and 36.0 total blocks. Myrick finished the 2025 season leading the team in assists, is fifth on the team in digs, third on the team in aces, third on the team in kills, and fifth on the team in total blocks. Myrick's totals rank her fifth in the league for total assists and fourth in assists per set (6.22).
RUNNING THE MIDDLE: Three middle blockers played a key role for the Black Knights in the 2025 season, Michelle Parker, Breelyn Bender and Corrine Blackburn. Parker led the Black Knights middle core in the regular season with 123 kills, 1.60 kills per set, .279 hitting percentage, 2.07 points per set and 67.0 total blocks. Breelyn Bender added 81 kills on a with her .251 attack percentage and was third on the team with 50.0 blocks. Blackburn, one-time Defensive Player of the Week last season rounded out the middles with 47.0 total blocks and a .257 hitting percentage.
NON-CONFERENCE PREVIEW: The Black Knights will stay at home in New York as well as travel to Texas for its non-league slate this season. First, they will host Iowa, Sacred Heart and UAlbany for annual Black Knight Invitational in Christl Arena August 28-30, the first time since 2008 volleyball will be played in the venue. Then, Army will head to Arlington, Texas for the UTA Tournament to play Sam Houston, Kent State and UT Arlington. Finally they head to Long Island for the Hofstra Invitational and will take on Liberty, Fairfield and Hofstra.
SETTING THE STANDARD: Army held some of the best numbers in NCAA Division I in several statistical categories in 2025. Army's defense ranked in the top 35 in the nation at the end the regular season, averaging 16.13 digs per set. The team was also in the top 110 or higher in three other statistical categories, including opponent hitting percentage (47), kills per set (91) and assists per set (106). They are also are in the top 20 for team attacks per set (18).
LONE STAR CONNECTIONS: Of the Black Knights' 20 member squad, six members of the team hail from the state of Texas: Kealakai Bandy (Frisco), Kenndey Jones (Pearland), Nicole Stroud (Fort Worth), Audrey St. Clair (Rockwall), Marlee Lightsey (New Braunfels) and Janie Deapen (Rockwall). These six will get the chance to play in their home state Labor Day Weekend as the Black Knights head to Arlington, Texas for the UTA Tournament, where they will take on Sam Houston State, Kent State and UT Arlington.
WINNINGEST HEAD COACH: Head Coach Alma Kovaci Lee is the winningest coach and longest tenured coach in Army Volleyball program history with a 350-187 record as she enters her 20th season with the program. She reached the record in 2024 in her 18th season, breaking the Army Volleyball all-time coaching wins record formerly held by Bob Gambardella. Last season, Kovaci Lee also became the third head coach in Patriot League history to earn 200 Patriot League wins. She has also led Army to back-to-back Patriot League Championship appearances.
History with Iowa
- The series is tied, 1-1
- Current Streak: Army, 1 win
- Last Army win: Sept. 18, 2009, 3-1
- Last Iowa win: Sept. 1, 1985, 3-0
History with Sacred Heart
- The Black Knights lead the series, 12-3
- Current Streak: Army, 4 wins
- Last Army win: Sept. 15, 2024, 3-1
- Last Sacred Heart win: Oct. 5, 2011, 3-0
History with UAlbany
- The Black Knights lead the series, 5-3
- Current Streak: Army, 1 win
- Last Army win: Aug. 31, 2018, 3-2
- Last UAlbany win: Sept. 17, 2016, 3-2
Follow Along
For complete coverage of Army West Point women's volleyball, follow the Black Knights on X and Instagram at @ArmyWP_VB and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
