CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas volleyball team is set to open the 50^th season in program history in Boulder, Colo. at the Buffs Classic this weekend. 
 
The Sugar Bears, entering their 7th season with John Newberry at the helm as head coach, are kicking off their first year in the United Athletic Conference. Central Arkansas was picked to finish second in the UAC this season in the coaches poll with 70 points and one first place vote. 

Central Arkansas enters following a 2025 season where they won the ASUN Tournament Championship, making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history and tallied an 18-12 overall record. 
 
The Sugar Bears are returning ten players including sophomore McKinzee Haas. In her freshman season, Haas led the team and ASUN in blocks with 122, and earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Haas also was fourth on the Sugar Bears in total kills with 170 last season. Greyson Button also returns for her senior season after her junior year in which she ranked second on the team and eighth in the ASUN in blocks. 
 
Central Arkansas also adds four transfers to the roster this season, including Olivia Kremer, a sophomore from West Georgia. Kremer saw action in all 29 matches last season, totaling 336 digs (3.39/set, ninth in the ASUN) and 78 assists. Nicole Sargent comes to Central Arkansas as a senior from North Alabama. Sargent played in 26 matches last season, tallied 165 kills, a .315 hitting percentage (eighth in the ASUN), 51 digs, and 13 service aces. 
 
The season begins at the Buffs Classic on Friday at 4 p.m. against Denver, Saturday at 7 p.m. against the host Colorado, and on Sunday at noon against CSUN. 
 
This is the Sugar Bears first matches against all three programs. All three matches will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available online.