Yellow Jackets Dominate This Weekend: Football Preps for Season Opener, Volleyball Sweeps Competition | August 30, 2026

A Perfect Weekend for Georgia Tech Volleyball

What a way to cap off the weekend! Georgia Tech volleyball completed an undefeated weekend at the Cyclone Invite, defeating Loyola Chicago 3-1 (25-11, 21-25, 25-18, 25-14) to finish 3-0 with dominant wins over Northern Illinois and Iowa State as well. This marks the Jackets’ second consecutive 3-0 start to a season—an impressive statement early on!

The offensive firepower was on full display, with the team hitting an outstanding .380 as a unit. Rookie Alida Bennour led the charge with a career-high 17 kills and an incredible .448 hitting percentage, while veteran Laura Bieleski chipped in 15 kills with a stellar .522 hit percentage. Over the entire weekend, Bieleski accumulated 42 kills and maintained hitting above .450% in the final two matches. Head Coach Michelle Collier is seeing the team’s newfound net strength make a real difference, with Bennour, Magda Kobaidze, and Zoë Humphrey providing the height and blocking prowess that has historically been a challenge for the program.

Up next for the Jackets is a home stretch featuring Southern Indiana, Campbell, and Xavier over Labor Day weekend before Oklahoma visits for the ACC/SEC Challenge on September 8. Keep an eye on this volleyball team—they’re looking dangerous early!

Football Season is HERE: Jackets Kick Off Thursday Night Under the Lights

Georgia Tech football opens the 2026 season with a Whiteout against Colorado this Thursday, August 3, at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The anticipation is building, and Bobby Dodd Stadium will be electric as the Yellow Jackets take the field for the first time under new leadership. This is your chance to be part of the energy—wear your white and make some noise!

Looking Ahead: Mercer and Stanford on the Horizon

After the Colorado opener, Tech has matchups against Mercer in Week 3 and makes the inaugural pilgrimage to Stanford in Week 4. While these two opponents might not grab the headlines, they offer critical tests for our offense and defense as the season develops.

Mercer (Sept. 19, 12:00 p.m. ET in Atlanta) is undergoing a major rebuild under new head coach Joel Taylor. The Bears lost star quarterback Braden Atkinson to Oregon State and elite defensive end Andrew Zock to Toledo—a devastating blow that saw over half their roster depart via the transfer portal. However, Taylor knows the program well after previous stints as Mercer’s assistant and brings winning experience from West Georgia. The Bears started their season strong with a 23-15 win over East Texas A&M, showing they won’t be a pushover. This matchup gives Justice Haynes, Malachi Hosley, and new quarterback Alberto Mendoza ideal preparation before the trip out west.

The Stanford game (Sept. 26, 10:30 p.m. ET in Palo Alto) is a historic first: Tech has never played at Stanford before, making this inaugural ACC road trip extra special. Like Mercer, Stanford is in transition with new head coach Tavita Pritchard taking over after a 4-8 season. The Cardinal’s weak pass defense last year could provide opportunities for our offense, but the late kickoff, cross-country travel, and short week present real challenges. This is the kind of game that could go either way depending on how the Jackets manage the variables.

Carol Lee Takes the Stage at the U.S. Open

Georgia Tech women’s tennis player Carol Lee is competing at the 2026 U.S. Open, representing the Jackets on one of tennis’s biggest stages. Best of luck to Carol as she takes on the world’s elite players!

Keep the Momentum Going!

This is an exciting time to be a Georgia Tech fan! Our volleyball team is firing on all cylinders, football is about to kick off its season, and our student-athletes are competing at the highest levels across all sports. Whether you’re heading to Bobby Dodd Stadium on Thursday night or catching the matches at home, make sure you’re supporting our Jackets. What are you most excited about as we head into the fall sports season? Drop a comment below and let’s celebrate our Yellow Jackets together!