COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech University’s road to future athletic success will accelerate through the South, as the university joins the famed Southern Conference (SoCon).
Tech’s official arrival on July 1, 2026, will make the SoCon an 11-team conference, joining East Tennessee State University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The Citadel, Furman University, Mercer University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Samford University, Virginia Military Institute, Western Carolina University and Wofford College.
The Golden Eagles will match up against spirited rivals ETSU and Chattanooga, while meeting up with some conference members for the first time. Fourteen of 15 Tech sports (beach volley is not a conference sport) will compete in the SoCon.
“This historic move changes the trajectory of our athletic aspirations and makes a statement to our campus and our community that Tech sports will be a part of a vibrant conference with new geographic rivalries,” said Tech Director of Athletics Casey Fox. “Our student-athletes and coaches will benefit from the reputation and competition the SoCon offers.”
“Tennessee Tech Athletics brings championship-caliber strength to the SoCon,” added Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross. “Their recent success speaks for itself — a 2024 football championship and a preseason Top 25 ranking this year, a women’s basketball program ranked 22nd all-time in Division I wins and consistent NCAA Tournament appearances across multiple sports. With an 88 percent graduation success rate and strong APR scores, Tech proves that winning and academic achievement go hand-in-hand — the Southern Conference standard.”
The SoCon, the original super conference, is one of the most prestigious athletic conferences in the country, and the fifth-oldest NCAA Division I Collegiate athletic conference in the nation. It sponsors 20 varsity sports, and its championships consistently produce participants for NCAA Division I Championships.
Over its 105-year history, the conference has become known for the high academic performance of its student-athletes, who are mentored to become leaders and role models. Member schools carry reputations for high academic standards and achievement, with 20 Rhodes Scholars coming from member institutions.
Tech fans will find a rich history in their new conference. It boasts a track record as the best Football Championship Subdivision conference, with former member Appalachian State University winning three consecutive titles. Basketball fans can look forward to one of the best conference basketball tournaments in the country, hosted each year in Asheville, N.C.
The original 13 Southeastern Conference (SEC) members were first members of the SoCon, and Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant spent his early coaching years there. Known for its innovation, it was the first conference to install the 3-point line in basketball and to develop women’s championships. Famous professional athletes from the conference include Stephen Curry, Brad Faxon and Dexter Coakley.
“Geographically, the states with SoCon teams fit the footprint of our students and alumni, so our move makes sense in those terms,” said Tech President Phil Oldham. “Beyond that, our students and fans will have a chance to be a part of new rivalries and traditions that can create lifetime memories.”
Student-athletes and fans can now look forward to traveling to cities in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia for competition. These states produce the majority of Tech students, and they are home to tens of thousands of alumni.
“At the same time, I want to express our gratitude to the Ohio Valley Conference and acknowledge how its history and ours have benefitted student-athletes and fans for decades. Our years in the OVC will remain part of the fabric of our rich athletic history,” Oldham said.
Tech joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 1949 and benefited from the focus on the entire student-athlete experience, including academics and sportsmanship. The Golden Eagles share second place for OVC football championships with 11. Also in the OVC, the women’s basketball team racked up an impressive 19 regular-season championships, while the men’s rifle team won three NCAA national championships. Tech’s long-standing relationship with the OVC produced signature rivalries, one of which will be renewed with Samford.
Tech will participate as an OVC member in all scheduled events as announced for the 2025-2026 season.
“College athletics is experiencing unprecedented change, and Tennessee Tech is committed to navigating those changes by putting our student-athletes and coaches in the best position to win and become successful leaders,” concluded President Oldham. “Joining the SoCon shows that conference leaders recognized this commitment and the history of excellence here at Tech. We are honored to join the Southern Conference and compete for championships.”
Learn more about Tennessee Tech Athletics at www.ttusports.com.
Pitt received a commitment from former Kentucky middle blocker/right-side hitter Jordyn Dailey.
Dailey is a redshirt sophomore and will have two years of eligibility. The 6-foot-2 North Carolina native racked up 188 kills, 116 blocks and 42 digs over the past two seasons. Dailey recorded 142 kills, 82 blocks and a .314 hitting percentage in 2024. Her numbers dipped to 46 kills, 34 blocks and a .211 hitting percentage in 2025.
Pitt lost middle blocker Ryla Jones to Penn State through the transfer portal.
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston volleyball program and head coach Brenda Gray announced the signing of six student-athletes to play for the Bearkats for the 2026 season.
The signing class consists of outside hitters Annika Brooks, Brenlin Garlitz, Justice Rachal, Kameron Rector, Lauren Pyle and Sarah Odell.
“All of these young ladies bring a passion and energy that Sam Houston Volleyball thrives upon,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “They all come with numerous accolades both on the court and in the classroom.”
Annika Brooks • 6-3 • RS • Halletsville, Texas • Sacred Heart Catholic School / Blinn College
Blinn College
– 2025 second team all-conference selection
Ovilla Christian School
– 2021 second team all-district selection as freshman
– 2022 first team all-district selection as a sophomore
– 2022 honorable mention all-area
– 2023 first team all-district selection as a junior
– 2023 TAPPS first team all-state selection
– 2023 honorable mention all-area selection
– 2023 TAPPS academic all-state selection
– 2024 first team all-district selection as a senior
– 2024 TAPPS first team all-state selection
– 2024 TAPPS academic all-state selection
Texas Tornadoes (Club)
– 17s bid to nationals
– 18s bid to nationals
Gray on Brooks …
“Annika brings size and a blocking presence to our game on the right side. We are so fortunate to have her join us this spring.”
Brenlin Garlitz • 5-10 • S • Waxahachie, Texas • Ovilla Christian School
Ovilla Christian School
– 2022 TAPPS second team all-district selection as freshman
– 2023 TAPPS first team all-state
– 2024 TAPPS first team all-state
– 2024 Ellis County All-Star Team
– 4-time state champion
Texas Advantage Volleyball (Club)
– NRG 15s bid to nationals
– NRG 16s bid to nationals
– TAV 18s Black: 5th at nationals
Gray on Garlitz …
“We are excited to bring in a dynamic setter to help run our floor. Brenlin runs a quick offense and brings a passion and love for the game that is undeniable.”
“Justice will be a crowd favorite from the start. She has a contagious energy and a vertical leap that will add to the excitement on the outside position.”
“It is good for us to get an experienced floor leader on the roster and we are excited to have her join us in the spring to begin running our offense and bring her expertise that she delivered in junior college”.
– 2024 and 2025 District 15-6A Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year
– 2024 and 2025 first team all-District 15-6A
– 2024 and 2025 academic all-District 15-6A
– Played club at North Houston Elite Volleyball
Gray on Odell …
“There is an explosiveness to the outside that is needed in this league, which Sarah immediately gives us as a complete, six-rotation player who will help balance our offense.”
If it were up to head coach Charlie Wade, the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team would never start its season this early.
The Rainbow Warriors, who began their preseason practices on Sunday, will officially begin their 2026 campaign on Friday against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Although the ‘Bows have routinely started their seasons on the first Friday of the year, that doesn’t mean Wade has to like it.
“I’ve advocated that the first match can’t be before (Martin Luther King Jr. Day),” Wade said on Monday. “Let them actually have a holiday and then come back and practice for a couple of weeks. But how it goes, everybody kind of ramps it up, practices for a few days and then starts playing.”
One of the few positives Wade sees in the compressed preseason schedule is the fact that the Rainbow Warriors are not in class yet, which allows them the time to focus on an intense schedule featuring two practices a day leading up to the opener.
Trips to the practice gym have been frequent in recent days. Inside of it is a collection of world-class athletes, a roster featuring players from seven different countries and four separate states. Although there’s only one senior among the 19 players, the Rainbow Warriors are a team with clear national championship expectations in 2026.
The Rainbow Warriors have played in four national championship matches under Wade, winning it all in 2021 and 2022. The ‘Bows went 27-6 in 2025 and were swept by UCLA in the national semifinals. In 2026, UH returns five of its seven starters in that semifinal match, not counting star opposite hitter Kristian Titriyski, who missed the last eight matches due to an ankle injury.
Despite its losses in personnel, the Rainbow Warriors have reloaded. After losing beloved assistant coach Milan Zarkovic to UCLA, Wade got Maui native and former Ball State head coach Donan Cruz to join the staff. Meanwhile, the void left by former starting libero ‘Eleu Choy will likely be filled by Canadian national teamer Quintin Greenidge, a newcomer in Mānoa who will have two years of college eligibility remaining.
When Grand Canyon University decided to immediately scrap its nationally ranked men’s volleyball program following the 2025 season to focus on other sports, the Rainbow Warriors were able to benefit by signing freshman All-American Trevell Jordan and former GCU commit Thatcher Fahlbusch. Jordan is competing for one of the two starting spots at middle blocker, along with Ofeck Hazan, Justin Todd, Alex Parks and 7-foot freshman Roman Payne.
“None of us saw it coming,” Jordan said of Grand Canyon punting on men’s volleyball. “The team and squad (at UH) has been really inviting. They’ve been working with me to get me more accommodated to here, as it’s a big move from where I originally was from.”
Jordan immediately became one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal upon entering. He was already familiar with a handful of players on the UH roster after playing with them on multiple United States national teams.
“He had offers to go to every top program in the country, and ironically, they were pushing him to make a fast decision, and they pushed him towards us,” Wade recalled. “I was the one saying, ‘Hey, I’m in for the long haul. I want you here. Take your time to figure it out.'”
Running the show for the Rainbow Warriors is Tread Rosenthal, the team’s 6-foot-11 setter who established himself as the team’s unquestioned leader as a sophomore in 2025.
“I think last year we showed that we had the potential to be the best team on any given night, but I think this year we need to be the best team every night no matter what,” Rosenthal said. “I think that just comes with working with together to get it more consistent.”
Added Wade: “It’s year three (for Rosenthal). It’s the payoff year, right? By the third year, you can see there’s just kind of a calm confidence to him that he’s kind of been there, done that. He clearly is the leader of the team. These are his guys. A lot of them are here because of him. Looking for even bigger and better things from him this year for sure.”
Hawai‘i will start off the year as the No. 2 team in the country following the release of the preseason AVCA poll, which had UCLA in the top spot. External expectations are high for the Rainbow Warriors, but internal expectations are higher.
“My freshman year, we didn’t go to the championship. My sophomore year, we lost in the the semis,” junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko said. “We have to get the championship now. I feel like the whole team knows we could win the championship. We have the team for it, but now we need to be consistent enough to beat every single team every night. And we’re just really, really excited to prove that to everyone.
“We all want to win a national championship. That’s the goal. We won the Big West last year, that was wonderful for sure, but we want that big one.”
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
Setter: Madison Markwardt, Round Top-Carmine, soph.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ana Servin, Sulphur Bluff, sr.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Professional Volleyball League team Choco Mucho Flying Titans announced four addition to their team, Eya Laure, Jaila Atienza, Alina Bicar, and Caitlin Viray, for 2026 on Wednesday.
“The Choco Mucho Flying Titans welcome 4 new players to the team! They bring the grit, speed, and fire that will make every match unforgettable,” they wrote in their post.
This came after Royse Tubino, Bia General, Cherry Nunag, and Aduke Agunsanya ended their stint with the team. (Instagram/Choco Mucho Flying Titans)
