HPU Launches Inaugural Beach Volleyball Season and Releases 2026 Schedule
Brownwood, Texas — Howard Payne University is proud to officially unveil the first-ever Beach Volleyball schedule, marking a historic moment for Yellow Jacket Athletics as the program steps onto the sand for its inaugural season.
Leading the brand-new program is Head Coach Micah Taylor, an HPU alumna and former standout multi-sport athlete who returns to her alma mater with deep passion and vision for the sport. Taylor brings years of coaching experience at the club and high-school levels and is set to guide the Yellow Jackets through their first season of collegiate beach competition.
"We are thrilled to launch our very first season of beach volleyball! This year promises to be an exciting and memorable experience for our athletes and for HPU as a whole. We can't wait to compete on our incredible sand courts, honoring our generous donors Woody & Miki Martin, as well as the beautiful pavilion gifted by Ben & Bertha Mieth. Their support has made this dream a reality, and we're so grateful." Said Coach Taylor
2026 Beach Volleyball Schedule
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Feb. 20–21 – at Mary Hardin-Baylor
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Feb. 28 – Schreiner (Scrimmage)
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Mar. 6–7 – at Wayland Baptist
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Mar. 20–21 – at Texas A&M–Texarkana
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Mar. 27–28 – at East Texas Baptist
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Apr. 1–2 – at Mary Hardin-Baylor
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Apr. 9 – at Tarleton
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Apr. 17–19 – Small College Nationals
With the schedule set and a new home facility ready to host future seasons, the Yellow Jackets are poised to establish a strong foundation in their debut year. Fans can look forward to competitive road matchups, program-building milestones, and the excitement of seeing beach volleyball take flight at HPU.
