Albany, Ga. — Albany State University Head Volleyball Coach Verniece Graham and the Lady Golden Rams have announced their 2026 schedule, a slate that features four early-season tournaments, a home SIAC Crossover event and a competitive conference schedule as the program looks to continue its rise among the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's elite.

Entering her ninth season at the helm, Graham will lead Albany State through a 30-match regular-season schedule that includes opportunities to face regional opponents, nationally recognized programs and key SIAC rivals before postseason play begins in November.

The Lady Golden Rams kick off their season on August 28-29 at the Georgia College Tournament in Milledgeville, Georgia. On the first day, Albany State will take on West Alabama and Carson-Newman before facing Southern Wesleyan and the host team, Georgia College, on August 29.

September promises to be packed with competitive matchups as Albany State heads to Fort Valley, Georgia, for The Black Excellence Volleyball Classic from September 4-6. During this three-day event, the Lady Golden Rams will compete against Bowie State, Claflin, Virginia Union, and Bluefield State.

The team will return to Alabama on September 8 for a tri-match hosted by West Alabama, where they'll square off against both West Alabama and the United States Sports Academy. Albany State will continue its tournament play on September 11-12 at the Auburn Montgomery Tournament, tackling challenging opponents such as Middle Georgia, Arkansas-Fort Smith, host Auburn Montgomery, and Lane College over the two days.

Conference action officially kicks off on September 18-19 when Albany State hosts the SIAC Crossover Tournament at the HPER Gymnasium. The Lady Golden Rams will welcome conference foes Tuskegee, Kentucky State, Central State, and Spring Hill to Albany for one of the season's standout events.

After the crossover weekend, Albany State will begin its home conference schedule on September 24 against Allen University and then host Benedict College on September 26. 

October will be filled with crucial SIAC matchups as the Lady Golden Rams travel to Wilberforce, Ohio, for the second SIAC Crossover Tournament on October 2-3. Here, Albany State will face Miles College, Lane College, and LeMoyne-Owen College in crossover play.

Returning home on October 6, the team will host its rival, Fort Valley State University. This will be followed by a stretch of conference contests against Clark Atlanta, Savannah State, and Edward Waters. As the month wraps up, Albany State will engage in important divisional matchups, including road games at Benedict and Allen, followed by a home game against Clark Atlanta on October 27 and a trip to Fort Valley State on October 30.

The regular season will wind down in November with matches against Savannah State on November 3 and Edward Waters on November 5. The game against Savannah State will also be Senior Night, providing a fitting opportunity to honor the graduating student-athletes for their contributions to Albany State Volleyball.

Following the regular season, the Lady Golden Rams will shift their focus to postseason play, with the SIAC Volleyball Championship Tournament set to begin on November 11 in Fort Valley, Georgia. This tournament will run through November 13 and will determine the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division II Tournament.

As the season unfolds, Albany State aims to build on its recent successes and continue its quest for a SIAC championship. With a solid coaching staff led by Graham and Assistant Coach Calvin King, the Lady Golden Rams are ready to tackle a demanding schedule that will prepare them for the challenges ahead.

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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 12 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).