SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (July 8, 2026) – The Western New England women's volleyball team has announced its 2026 competition schedule, a 25-match slate highlighted by an early-season trip to California, four multi-team events, and 10 Conference of New England (CNE) contests that will shape the race for postseason positioning. The Golden Bears will compete in nine home matches inside the Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center while playing 16 contests away from Springfield.

The season begins on September 1 with a road contest at Bard College at 6:00 PM before Western New England heads west for one of the most unique stretches of its schedule in recent memory. The Golden Bears will travel to California for a two-day quad-match hosted by Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, opening play against Carleton College at 6:00 PM PST on September 4 before returning to the court the following day for matches against Occidental College at 3:30 PM PST and the host Pomona-Pitzer at 8:30 PM PST.

Following the cross-country trip, Western New England returns to the East Coast for another busy weekend at a tri-match hosted by SUNY Polytechnic Institute on September 12. The Golden Bears will square off with SUNY Potsdam for the first time since 2014 (a WNE win) at 2:00 PM before meeting the host Wildcats at 4:00 PM, whom they have not faced in recent seasons.

The home opener arrives on September 16 when Westfield State University visits Springfield for the first of nine matches on the Golden Bears' home court at 6:00 PM. Western New England then returns to the road for a two-week stretch away from Springfield. The stretch begins at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at 6:00 PM on September 18 before competing in a tri-match hosted by Keene State College on September 19, featuring WPI at 2:00 PM and the Owls at 4:00 PM.

Conference play gets underway on September 23 with a road matchup at the University of Hartford at 6:00 PM before the Golden Bears close out the month at another tri-match, this time hosted by Colby-Sawyer College. Western New England opens September 26 against Mitchell College in the programs' first meeting since a 3-0 Golden Bear victory in 2007, before taking on host Colby-Sawyer College. WNE is 8-9 all-time against the Chargers. The Chargers claimed last season's meeting in Springfield, 3-1.

The non-conference slate continues with a home contest against UMass-Boston on September 30 at 7:00 PM, serving as the final tune-up before conference play shifts into full gear. The Golden Bears are looking for redemption against the Beacons, as they fell in straight sets during the 2025 campaign.

October opens with an important stretch of CNE competition beginning at home against the University of New England on October 3 at 1:30 PM. The Golden Bears then head to Nichols College on October 7 at 6:00 PM, where Western New England has enjoyed considerable success in recent meetings. The Golden Bears owns a 10-1 advantage in the all-time series, including each of the last six matchups entering the 2026 season.

Western New England returns home three days later to welcome the Curry College Colonels on October 10 at 2:00 PM before briefly stepping outside conference play to host Elms College on October 14 at 5:00 PM. That matchup marks the 13^th all-time matchup between the two Western Massachusetts programs.

The second half of October features one of the most demanding portions of the schedule. Johnson & Wales University visits campus for the first time since 2016 on October 16 at 7:00 PM before the Golden Bears travel to Endicott College five days later on October 21 at 7:00 PM. Western New England then returns home to host Wentworth Institute of Technology on October 24 at noon, giving the Golden Bears another opportunity to defend their home court during the heart of conference play.

A late-season non-conference meeting with Dean College concludes non-conference play for the Golden Bears on October 28 at 7:00 PM before the team closes its regular-season road schedule with consecutive conference matches at Gordon College and Suffolk University on October 31 at 1:00 PM and November 4 at 7:00 PM, respectively.

The regular season concludes on November 7 at 1:00 PM when Roger Williams University visits Springfield in what could carry significant implications for positioning in the Conference of New England standings. The Golden Bears will look to avenge last season's 3-0 loss. The Conference of New England Championship will begin following the conclusion of the regular season, with the top six teams in the conference standings qualifying for postseason play.

Fans can find the complete 2026 schedule and follow the Golden Bears throughout the season here