TUCSON, Ariz.— The Arizona Beach Volleyball team will open the 2026 season playing in the GCU Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona February 20-21.
The Wildcats take on UC Davis Feb 20 (Fri) at 11:30 AM MST, Colorado Mesa Feb 20 (Fri) at 2:00 PM MST, TCU Feb 21 (Sat) at 9:00 AM MST, and Grand Canyon Feb 23 (Sat) at 4:30 PM MST.
The 2026 season consists of 30 regular season matches. The Sand Cats will host the Big 12 Tournament and travel to Gulf Shores, Alabama for the NCAA Beach Championships. The Sand Cats ended the 2025 season 18-12.
GCU Invitational Match Ups
UC Davis - Arizona is 3-0 in their meetings with UC Davis. The Wildcats last matchup against UC Davis was in the 2021 season where they took the match 4-1.
Colorado Mesa - The Wildcats have an overall record of 8-0 against Colorado Mesa. Their most recent matchup was in April of 2023 and resulted in a victory for Arizona, with the Wildcats sweeping 5-0.
TCU - Arizona is 4-1 in their meetings with TCU. The Wildcats lost their last matchup against the Frogs 1-4 in the 2025 season.
Grand Canyon - Arizona is 4-4 in their meetings with the Lopes. The Wildcats dropped the last two matchups against GCU which took place in the 2025 season.
The Wildcats are set to host three tournaments and the Big 12 Tournament over the course of the 2026 season:
- Feb. 27 - 28: Cactus Classic
- March 20 - 21: Arizona Invitational
- April 3 - 4: Wildcat Spring Challenge
- April 23 – 24: Big 12 Tournament
The Sand Cats roster is composed of 13 returners and six freshman players as well as 2 transfers.
NOTING THE WILDCATS
Ashlyn Zilliken has achieved a career record of 38-21 (.644) heading into her junior year. Last season, she went 21-8 with her partner
Madeline Walker. Zilliken earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season.
Kate Phillips holds a career record of 36-25 (0.590) heading into her junior year. In 2025, she went 15-14 with her partner
Adriana Nieves Papaleo. Phillips earned 5 clinching points last season.
Madeline Walker has a career record of 21-8 (0.724) with the Wildcats after finishing her freshman season. Last season, Walker went 21-8 with partner
Ashlyn Zilliken. Walker earned 7 match clinching points for the Cats last season.
Carlie Cisneros is welcomed to the Cats from the indoor volleyball team. Cisneros is in her junior year and was ranked the #1 recruit nationally for indoor by PrepVolleyball out of High School. She was named All-Big 12 second team in the 2025 season for volleyball.
