Saturday, August 29
Urbana-Champaign, IL
4 PM
Syracuse University
vs
Cincinnati
Orange Open 2026 Campaign Against Cincinnati and Illinois
8/28/2026 11:39:00 AM | Volleyball
Syracuse Volleyball hits the road to begin its 2026 campaign, opening in Champaign, Ill. to compete against a pair of non-conference opponents, starting with Cincinnati on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. ET, followed by Illinois on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. ET.
The Bearcats went 15-13 (7-11 Big 12) in 2025, completing their second year in the Big 12, while the Illini ended the year 13-16 (8-12 Big Ten). Syracuse looks to build on the momentum from its strong start last season, as the Orange begins its 2026 season.
LET'S GET THE BALL ROLLING
The Bearcats went 15-13 (7-11 Big 12) in 2025, completing their second year in the Big 12, while the Illini ended the year 13-16 (8-12 Big Ten). Syracuse looks to build on the momentum from its strong start last season, as the Orange begins its 2026 season.
LET'S GET THE BALL ROLLING
- The Orange started hot in its non-conference schedule in 2025, going 8-2 to start the year. The Orange also won all three tournaments that the team competed in during the non-conference slate.
- Syracuse will play a nine-match slate of non-conference matches before rolling into ACC play during late September.
- During the 2026 season, Syracuse Volleyball will represent nine states and three countries outside of the U.S., with five international players.
- From overseas, the Orange bring in Emma Faerber and Mira Ledermueller (Germany), Aileen McAllister and Yuka Urano (Japan) and Bo Nijenhuis (Netherlands).
- Of the nine U.S. states represented, only two pairs of players share a home state, Keila Gabriel and Sophie Vienna (California) and Queen Howse and Kiernan Stamey (Tennessee).
- The Orange have new faces at the Middle Blocker position with Kiera Hagler, Emma Faerber, Bo Nijenhuis and Abby Nicholson joining the fold.
- Hagler, a freshman from Calera, Ala., competed at Calera High School and Alabama Performance Volleyball Club before joining the Orange.
- Faerber, a freshman from Wiesbaden, Germany, played for VC Wiesbaden and competed in the German National Championship each year from 2023 to 2026.
- Nijenhuis, a graduate from the Netherlands, brings experience from Rivo Rijssen, a championship-winning team in the Netherlands.
- Nicholson, a graduate from Savannah, Ga., competed for Lafayette, tallying 43 matches played, appearing in 98 sets while notching 37 starts.
- This will be the 10th meeting between the Orange and the Bearcats.
- Cincinnati leads the series 7-2, claiming the last victory in 2012, 3-0.
- The Bearcats open their season against Illinois the day before competing against Syracuse.
- Senior Sydney Nolan recorded 468 kills over 100 sets in 2025, earning First Team All-Big 12 Honors.
- This will be the first competition between the Syracuse and Illinois volleyball programs.
- Illinois rounded off its 2025 season 13-16 (8-12 Big Ten) and starts a new campaign with opening games against Cincinnati and Syracuse.
- Going into her senior season, Taylor de Boer led Illinois with 368 kills, while ranking eighth in the Big Ten in kills/set.
- Cincinnati: Saturday, Aug. 29, 4:00 PM ET – B1G+
- Illinois: Sunday, Aug. 30, 1:00 PM ET – B1G+
Players Mentioned
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RS
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MB
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/ VolleyballFriday, November 28
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