Wednesday, September 2
Fort Worth, Texas
6:30 PM
TCU
vs
SMU
Preview: No. 8 SMU
9/1/2026 8:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FORT WORTH – Volleyball returns to Schollmaier Arena when No. 18 TCU volleyball hosts No. 8 SMU in its home opener on Wednesday, September 2, at 6:30 p.m. CT.
TCU TIDBITS
• It marks the first meeting between the two programs since 2021; however, the teams are familiar with one another, having faced off in exhibitions and spring matches each of the last three seasons.
• The Horned Frogs opened their 2026 season with a strong showing against No. 2 Texas and UNLV at the Players Era Volleyball Showcase in Las Vegas.
•Four of TCU's first five opponents to start the season are ranked inside the top 15.
• Jalyn Gibson, Evan Hendrix and Becca Kelley were voted to the Preseason All-Big 12 team by the league's head coaches. TCU's three selections are tied for the most of any school in the conference.
• The Frogs were picked to finish second in the Big 12 Preseason Poll behind defending champs Arizona State.
• Hendrix became the seventh AVCA All-American in program history last year, landing on the third team. She was tabbed to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List to start the season.
• After suffering a season-ending ACL injury against No. 5 Penn State last September, Gibson is back for her fifth and final year of eligibility.
• Last season, the Frogs recorded 20+ wins for the second consecutive year, marking their first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 2008-09.
• TCU's 2026 schedule features 17 NCAA Tournament teams from last season, including seven that advanced to the Sweet 16.
• Of the Horned Frogs' 29 matches, 21 will be against teams that played in the postseason.
• TCU won a program record six matches against top-25 opponents last season, proving that the Frogs can play with the best in the country.
• Half of TCU's roster is new for the 2026 season. The Frogs welcomed in three freshmen and added six transfers.
SCOUTING REPORT
SMU enters the week ranked No. 8 nationally after a 3-0 start to the season where the Mustangs defeated defending national champion Texas A&M, Colorado State and UC Davis. Coming off a program-best 27-6 season last year, that included their first Sweet 16 appearance, eight players return, including AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans Favor Anyanwu and Jadyn Livings.
BYU transfer Suli Davis has quickly emerged as SMU's top attacker, leading the Mustangs in kills in each of their first three matches, including 22 at Colorado State. Setter Hannah Beauford directs the offense at 9.42 assists per set. Defensively, Anyanwu averages 1.67 blocks per set, and South Carolina transfer Victoria Harris leads the team with 3.67 digs per set.
Wednesday is the first meeting between the DFW rivals since 2021 and the first ever with both teams nationally ranked. SMU leads the all-time series 15-7 and owns a 6-4 record in Fort Worth, including a five-set victory at Schollmaier Arena in the last meeting.
HOME SWEET HOME
• The Frogs finished their 2025 campaign with 13 wins inside Schollmaier Arena, one shy of tying the program record set in 2007 and 2024.
• Since the start of the 2024 season, TCU is 27-3 on its home court.
• Further, Williams is 44-14 at home during his tenure as a head coach.
NEW COURT, WHO DIS?
• This season TCU volleyball upgraded its gameday experience with a brand new Taraflex court in Schollmaier Arena.
• Often described as the "best volleyball surface in the world," Taraflex offers the most protection upon impact for jumping, sliding and diving.
• The playing surface was custom designed for Schollmaier Arena and can be rolled up and stored away following competition.
• It marks a major investment by TCU and athletic director Mike Buddie, not only in head coach Jason Williams, but the sport of volleyball as a whole.
PRESEASON PRAISE
• Jalyn Gibson, Evan Hendrix and Becca Kelley were all voted to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
• The TCU trio takes up three of the 19 spots, tied with Arizona State and BYU for the most from a single school.
• For Gibson, it marks her third straight year on the preseason award list.
• She missed the 2025 season after suffering an ACL injury against Penn State in the second match of the year, but is back and ready to be a key contributor to the Frogs' offense in her fifth and final season in purple.
• Hendrix earned a spot on the preseason award list after being a unanimous First Team All-Big 12 selection and leading the league with 4.96 kills per set in conference matches in 2025.
• Kelley thrived for the Frogs last season, collecting All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
• The Rockwall, Texas, product was the only TCU player to appear in all 123 sets on the season, where she logged 359 kills and over 400 points for the Frogs.
For all the latest TCU volleyball news, follow the Frogs on Twitter at @TCUVolleyball, on Instagram at @tcuvolleyball and on Facebook at TCU Volleyball.
TCU TIDBITS
• It marks the first meeting between the two programs since 2021; however, the teams are familiar with one another, having faced off in exhibitions and spring matches each of the last three seasons.
• The Horned Frogs opened their 2026 season with a strong showing against No. 2 Texas and UNLV at the Players Era Volleyball Showcase in Las Vegas.
•Four of TCU's first five opponents to start the season are ranked inside the top 15.
• Jalyn Gibson, Evan Hendrix and Becca Kelley were voted to the Preseason All-Big 12 team by the league's head coaches. TCU's three selections are tied for the most of any school in the conference.
• The Frogs were picked to finish second in the Big 12 Preseason Poll behind defending champs Arizona State.
• Hendrix became the seventh AVCA All-American in program history last year, landing on the third team. She was tabbed to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List to start the season.
• After suffering a season-ending ACL injury against No. 5 Penn State last September, Gibson is back for her fifth and final year of eligibility.
• Last season, the Frogs recorded 20+ wins for the second consecutive year, marking their first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 2008-09.
• TCU's 2026 schedule features 17 NCAA Tournament teams from last season, including seven that advanced to the Sweet 16.
• Of the Horned Frogs' 29 matches, 21 will be against teams that played in the postseason.
• TCU won a program record six matches against top-25 opponents last season, proving that the Frogs can play with the best in the country.
• Half of TCU's roster is new for the 2026 season. The Frogs welcomed in three freshmen and added six transfers.
SCOUTING REPORT
SMU enters the week ranked No. 8 nationally after a 3-0 start to the season where the Mustangs defeated defending national champion Texas A&M, Colorado State and UC Davis. Coming off a program-best 27-6 season last year, that included their first Sweet 16 appearance, eight players return, including AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans Favor Anyanwu and Jadyn Livings.
BYU transfer Suli Davis has quickly emerged as SMU's top attacker, leading the Mustangs in kills in each of their first three matches, including 22 at Colorado State. Setter Hannah Beauford directs the offense at 9.42 assists per set. Defensively, Anyanwu averages 1.67 blocks per set, and South Carolina transfer Victoria Harris leads the team with 3.67 digs per set.
Wednesday is the first meeting between the DFW rivals since 2021 and the first ever with both teams nationally ranked. SMU leads the all-time series 15-7 and owns a 6-4 record in Fort Worth, including a five-set victory at Schollmaier Arena in the last meeting.
HOME SWEET HOME
• The Frogs finished their 2025 campaign with 13 wins inside Schollmaier Arena, one shy of tying the program record set in 2007 and 2024.
• Since the start of the 2024 season, TCU is 27-3 on its home court.
• Further, Williams is 44-14 at home during his tenure as a head coach.
NEW COURT, WHO DIS?
• This season TCU volleyball upgraded its gameday experience with a brand new Taraflex court in Schollmaier Arena.
• Often described as the "best volleyball surface in the world," Taraflex offers the most protection upon impact for jumping, sliding and diving.
• The playing surface was custom designed for Schollmaier Arena and can be rolled up and stored away following competition.
• It marks a major investment by TCU and athletic director Mike Buddie, not only in head coach Jason Williams, but the sport of volleyball as a whole.
PRESEASON PRAISE
• Jalyn Gibson, Evan Hendrix and Becca Kelley were all voted to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
• The TCU trio takes up three of the 19 spots, tied with Arizona State and BYU for the most from a single school.
• For Gibson, it marks her third straight year on the preseason award list.
• She missed the 2025 season after suffering an ACL injury against Penn State in the second match of the year, but is back and ready to be a key contributor to the Frogs' offense in her fifth and final season in purple.
• Hendrix earned a spot on the preseason award list after being a unanimous First Team All-Big 12 selection and leading the league with 4.96 kills per set in conference matches in 2025.
• Kelley thrived for the Frogs last season, collecting All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
• The Rockwall, Texas, product was the only TCU player to appear in all 123 sets on the season, where she logged 359 kills and over 400 points for the Frogs.
For all the latest TCU volleyball news, follow the Frogs on Twitter at @TCUVolleyball, on Instagram at @tcuvolleyball and on Facebook at TCU Volleyball.
Players Mentioned
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