Fifteen schools join AAA volleyball conference for 2026 - 2028 cycle

Fifteen schools are joining Arkansas Activities Association volleyball conferences this season, marking a significant expansion across the state. These programs did not compete last year for one straightforward reason their schools did not have volleyball teams. Now, with enough interest and participation to support full programs, the AAA has placed each school into a conference for the upcoming cycle.

This wave of new teams reflects how rapidly volleyball is growing in Arkansas. Athletic departments have spent months laying the groundwork hiring coaches, securing facilities, ordering equipment, and building rosters from scratch. For many of these campuses, this is the first time students have had access to school sponsored volleyball at all. In past years, anyone who wanted to play had to look outside their district including club teams or travel programs just to stay involved in the sport.

For established programs, the expansion means fuller schedules and fresh opponents. For the new programs, it marks the beginning of real, school supported competition and the opportunity to develop long term stability.

While these additions will not immediately shift the competitive landscape, they broaden it. With fifteen schools stepping in, the sport gains new rivalries, new communities, and more student athletes who finally have a place to play under their own school’s banner.

View 2026 - 2028 Volleyball Conferences