DENVER – Fresh off the first NCAA Division II National Championship in program history, the MSU Denver volleyball team is set to embark on a new era as first-year head coach Stacie Meisner leads the Roadrunners into the 2026 season.

MSU Denver announced its 2026 schedule Monday morning, featuring a demanding non-conference slate, 18 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches and aspirations of capturing a sixth consecutive RMAC regular-season championship.

Following the departure of longtime head coach Jenny Glenn after last season's historic title run, Meisner inherits one of Division II's premier programs and wastes little time testing her squad against some of the nation's top competition.

The Roadrunners will officially begin their title defense with the annual Alumni Match on Aug. 22 before opening regular-season play at the Ferris State Invitational in Big Rapids, Michigan.

MSU Denver opens tournament play on Aug. 27 against perennial national power Ferris State before taking on Purdue Northwest and Minnesota State on Aug. 28. The Roadrunners conclude the opening weekend against Illinois Springfield on Aug. 29.

The following week, MSU Denver returns to Auraria Event Center to host the Colorado Premier Challenge, another premier early-season tournament that annually features some of Division II's top programs. The Roadrunners open the event Sept. 4 with matches against Bentley and fellow South Central Region contender Angelo State before wrapping up tournament play Sept. 5 against two opponents to be announced.

Conference play begins Sept. 12 with a marquee home showdown against Colorado School of Mines before MSU Denver travels to UCCS three days later.

The defending national champions return home Sept. 18-22 for a four-match homestand, welcoming Colorado Mesa, Westminster, Colorado Christian and UCCS before traveling to Golden on Sept. 26 for another key matchup with Colorado School of Mines.

October features several critical road trips, beginning with visits to Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines on Oct. 2-3. The Roadrunners then return home to face Chadron State and Regis on Oct. 9-10 before traveling to Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo the following weekend.

The final stretch of conference play includes home contests against UCCS, CSU Pueblo, Fort Lewis and Western Colorado before closing the regular season with road matches at Adams State and New Mexico Highlands on Nov. 6-7.

Postseason play begins Nov. 10 with the RMAC Tournament, with quarterfinals, semifinals and championship matches running through Nov. 14. NCAA South Central Regional competition is scheduled for Nov. 19-22 before the NCAA Division II National Championship returns Dec. 3-5.

With championship expectations remaining as high as ever, the Roadrunners will look to build upon last season's historic success while chasing another conference crown and a return trip to the national stage under Meisner's leadership.

2026 Schedule Highlights

• Aug. 22: Alumni Match
• Aug. 27-29: Ferris State Invitational (Big Rapids, Mich.)
• Sept. 4-5: Colorado Premier Challenge (Denver)
• Sept. 12: RMAC opener vs. Colorado School of Mines
• Nov. 10-14: RMAC Tournament
• Nov. 19-22: NCAA South Central Regional
• Dec. 3-5: NCAA Division II National Championship