Camels begin season at K-State Invitational

BUIES CREEK - The 2026 volleyball campaign gets underway this weekend in Manhattan, Kansas where Campbell will take on Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Kansas State in the K-State Invitational. Sunday's match against Kansas State will be streamed on ESPN+.

Schedule
Saturday Aug. 29 - 1:30 - Campbell vs Texas A&M CC | LiveStats
Sunday Aug. 30 - 1:00 - Campbell at Kansas State | ESPN+ | LiveStats

Team Preview
Campbell will look to build on arguably the best season in program history, posting a 23-7 record, going 13-3 in league play for a share of the CAA regular season title and winning the CAA Championship in dramatic fashion, downing Hofstra in five sets for the title.

This year's squad returns nine players from a season ago, and four of the seven players that played more than 100 sets last season. Returning production comes at setter, with Pattie, Wheeler, and Artura all back, and in the middle with Heytvelt and Lambers. Victoria Tupy returns on the outside, while three of the other top four hitters from a season ago have departed.

Eight newcomers will look to serve as reinforcements, with six freshmen and two transfers. Emma McCartney (Jr., OH) headlines the group of newcomers after posting 300 kills last season at Northern Illinois.

Series History
The Camels are 0-3 all time against TAMU-CC, but have not faced the Islanders since 2015.

The meeting between Campbell and Kansas State will be the first between sides.

About The Field
TAMU-CC went 13-17 8-8 a season ago in the Southland Conference. The Islanders picked up a win over 3-seed Southeastern to reach the conference semifinals.

Kenna Buchanon leads the team in 2026 after posting 234 kills a season ago, good for second on the team. Brooklyn Jaeger ranked 10th nationally with 570 digs, and returns to anchor the back row again for the Islanders.

Kansas State posted an 18-10, 10-8 in the Big 12 a year ago, reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats will have a new look this season, looking to replace Shaylee Meyers, who ranked 10th in the country with 4.70 kills/set a year ago, along with their other top two hitters now departed. On defense, the top two digs earners are both gone as well.

Looking Ahead
Campbell visits Atlanta to face Georgia Tech, Southern Indiana, and Xavier in the Georgia Tech Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Victoria Tupy: OH; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#2 Emma McCartney: OH; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#6 Victoria Tupy
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: OH

#2 Emma McCartney
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH

Players Mentioned

#6 Victoria Tupy

#2 Emma McCartney

Players Mentioned

#6 Victoria Tupy

#2 Emma McCartney