SUNY Niagara women’s volleyball announced its finalized 2026 regular- season schedule Thursday. The Thunderwolves will play 20 regular-season matches — including 14 at seven different pods (doubleheaders) — and 10 road contests.
SUNY Niagara will travel to three road contests, including two NJCAA Region III pods, to start the season before its home opener and WNYAC opener versus longtime rival SUNY Erie at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 in Sanborn. The blue-and-gold also face fellow WNYAC members — Monroe Community College and Jamestown Community College — during the regular season slate.
The Thunderwolves begin the new campaign at the Jefferson Community College pod, versus the host Cannoneers at Noon, and Fulton-Montgomery Community College at 2 p.m. August 29 in Watertown. This marks SUNY Niagara’s fourth consecutive season competing in this pod.
SUNY Niagara continues its WNYAC portion of its schedule at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 at Monroe Community College in Rochester. The Thunderwolves are looking for their first win against the Tribunes since a three-set win on Sept. 21, 2024.
The Thunderwolves next hit the road for the Corning Community College pod starting at Noon on Sept. 5 in Steuben County. SUNY Niagara faces the host Red Barons at Noon and Broome Community College at 2:30 p.m.
SUNY Niagara then faces SUNY Erie at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 in Sanborn, its first of three home contests this season. The Thunderwolves are looking for their first win against the Kats since a five-set win on Oct. 9, 2014 in Sanborn.
The blue-and-gold then begins a three-match, seven-day road trip, starting with a visit to the Herkimer College pod on Sept. 12. The Thunderwolves will face both the host Generals and Mohawk Valley Community College during the event, but match times are to be determined.
SUNY Niagara travels to Genesee Community College for an NJCAA Region III match at 6 p.m. Sept. 15. The Thunderwolves lost both regular-season matches to the Cougars last season, including a five-set defeat on Oct. 5, their only match to go to five sets.
SUNY Niagara then returns to Genesee for a NJCAA Region III pod on Sept. 19. The Thunderwolves will face Jamestown Community College and SUNY Erie, but match times are to be determined.
The Thunderwolves finally return home for their host pod on Sept. 26 against Finger Lakes Community College and Monroe Community College. SUNY Niagara faces the Lakers at 11 a.m. and the Tribunes at 1 p.m.
SUNY Niagara closes its September schedule and begins a four-match road trip with a visit to Rochester at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at Roberts Wesleyan JV. The Thunderwolves recorded two wins against the Redhawks last season (3-1 on Sept. 17 and 3-0 on Oct. 9).
The blue-and-gold returns to Genesee for a second NJCAA Region III pod on Oct. 3. This pod will feature the Thunderwolves facing Onondaga Community College and Cayuga Community College, but match times are yet to be determined.
SUNY Niagara concludes its WNYAC regular season schedule at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 at Jamestown Community College. The Thunderwolves have won each of the last four matches against the Jayhawks since 2024 after a 17-match losing streak since 2014.
SUNY Niagara then travels to the northeastern region of the state for a NJCAA Region III pod at SUNY Adirondack Oct. 17, its final pod of the season. The Thunderwolves will face the host Timberwolves at 10 a.m. and Hudson Valley Community College at noon.
SUNY Niagara concludes its regular-season schedule versus Roberts Wesleyan JV at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 in Sanborn. The WNYAC Tournament will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 24 at the Burt Flickinger Center (SUNY Erie) in Buffalo and the NJCAA Region III postseason will start with sub-regional play Oct. 27.
With Lindsay Matikosh returning as head coach for a 12th season and a 16th season with the program overall, SUNY Niagara returns four players from last season who finished 6-15 and advanced to the NJCAA Region III postseason for the third time since 2014. The Thunderwolves lost to Onondaga Community College in four sets.
Key returners include sophomore middle hitter and right-side specialist Neveah Hall (Niagara Falls) and sophomore outside hitter Ava Roberts. Hall finished with 80 digs (third on team), 73 kills (fourth on team) and 20 blocks and appeared in all 21 matches, and Roberts recorded 60 kills and 66 digs in only nine matches.