Volleyball Opens 2026 Season with Chestnut Hill Invite

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College Volleyball is set to kick off its 2026 campaign this weekend, as they host the Chestnut Hill Invite. The season opener is set for Friday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. against Air Force, followed by a Sunday matchup with Quinnipiac at 1:00 p.m. All games will be available on ACCNX.
 
Boston College volleyball enters the 2026 campaign looking to build on a 16-16 record from a season ago. The Eagles were picked 15th in the 2026 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 87 points, while Stanford was tabbed as the league favorite. The 31-match regular-season slate features 16 home contests and 20 ACC matches, including matchups against Louisville, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Florida State. At the same time, the Eagles will travel to Clemson, Georgia Tech and Syracuse among their conference road contests.
 
The Eagles welcome back three seniors in 2026 — Audrey Ross, Sam Hoppes and Brooklyn Yelland. Ross returns as BC’s leading offensive weapon after leading the team with 384 kills and 425 points in 2025, averaging 3.56 kills per set while adding 162 digs and 49 blocks. Hoppes recorded 140 kills at a .229 clip in 2025, adding 45 blocks, 52 digs and 166 points. She also reached double-digit kills in six matches and posted a season-high 13 kills twice. Yelland led the team with 384 digs in 2025, averaging 3.43 digs per set across all 32 matches. She paced BC with 31 service aces and added 164 assists, while recording three matches with at least 20 digs, including a season-high 27 at Syracuse.
 
Inside the Match-Up
The Eagles will host the Falcons for the very first time on August 28th, making the matchup a brand-new series for both programs.
 
Sunday’s matchup against Quinnipiac marks the first meeting since Aug. 28, 2010, a span of nearly 16 years. Boston College holds a 6-0 record against Quinnipiac, with the Eagles earning a sweep in each of the six previous meetings. The series dates back to Oct. 16, 2002, when BC opened the all-time series with a 3-0 victory in Hamden, Conn.
 
Fresh Faces on Campus
The 2026 volleyball roster welcomes seven newcomers, including six first-year students. The incoming class includes two middle blockers; Chloe Allcroft and Laney Blevins, two outside hitters; Ava Castro and Mia Gold, a setter/right-side hitter; Ava McBride, and a libero/defensive specialist; Tiani Shaw. Additionally, the Eagles bring in sophomore transfer Reese Dunkle, a middle blocker who spent her freshman season at Stanford.
 
Season Openers
The Eagles have compiled a 19-16 record on opening day. BC has won eight of its last 11 season openers, most recently featuring a sweep over Iona. Boston College is 24-11 all-time in its home opener.