CANTON, Ga. - The Southern Athletic Association (SAA) 2026 Volleyball Championship will head to San Antonio, Texas, for the first time in history with Trinity University set to host, November 12-14.
Centre captured the No. 1 seed in the tournament and the regular season title after only dropping one game this season in conference play and being ranked No. 1 in the NPI rankings for three weeks. Berry only hs two league losses and takes the No. 2 seed as last year's tournament champion. Trinity holds strong at No. 3 and will take on No. 6 Millsaps in the first round while No. 4 Southwestern will play No. 5 Rhodes in the opening game.
The tournament will consist of five games, with quarterfinal action beginning Thursday afternoon and the semifinals slated for Friday afternoon. The title match will be at noon CT on Saturday, November 14.
Glimpse at the Matchups:
Quartefinal One | No. 4 Southwestern vs No. 5 Rhodes
Nov. 12 | 2 p.m. CT
With a 10-6 SAA record, the Pirates will take on Rhodes whom they defeated twice this season and only dropped on set to the Lynx (3-0,3-1). All six of Southwestern's losses come from higher seeds, but Rhodes has upended Trinity earlier this season.
Quartefinal Two | No. 3 Trinity vs No. 6 Millsaps
Nov. 12 | 5 p.m. CT
This matchup is one not to miss as Millsaps has defeated the ranked Tigers twice in regular season. Trinity is last year's regular season champion and will look to claim their first tournament title with the SAA while the Majors have never won an SAA title and will look to close out their time in the league with a championship.
Semifinal One | No. 1 Centre vs. Winner of Quarterfinal One
Nov. 13 | 2 p.m. CT
Centre has had a phenomenal season on their way to a regular season title. This regular season title is only the second for the Colonels. Centre looks to continue their history and claim their first-ever Tournament title. They are set to take on the winner of No. 4 Southwestern or No. 5 Rhodes who they have defeated twice this season.
Semifinal Two | No. 2 Berry vs. Winner of Quarterfinal Two
Nov. 13 | 5 p.m. CT
Berry enters the 2026 tournament having won the last five SAA Tournament Championships and holding the most SAA titles in history. The Vikings will be matched against Trinity whome they defeated in last year's tournament and defeated twice this season or Millsaps whom they have defeated in six consecutive sets.
Past SAA Champions
|
SAA Volleyball Tournament Champions
|
SAA Volleyball Regular
Season Champions |
| 2026 |
|
Centre (15-1) |
| 2025 |
Berry |
Trinity (13-1) |
| 2024 |
Berry |
Centre |
| 2023 |
Berry |
Berry |
| 2022 |
Berry |
Berry |
| 2021 |
Berry |
Berry |
| 2020 |
none |
Berry |
| 2019 |
Birmingham-Southern |
Birmingham-Southern |
| 2018 |
Berry |
Berry |
| 2017 |
Berry |
Berry |
| 2016 |
Hendrix |
Hendrix |
| 2015 |
Hendrix |
Hendrix |
| 2014 |
Hendrix |
Hendrix |
| 2013 |
Berry |
Berry |
| 2012 |
Berry |
Berry |
For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at www.saa-sports.com. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Southern Athletic Association news by following @SAA_Sports on Twitter (X) and @SAA_Sports on Instagram.