Hampton University
Bethune-Cookman
Pirates Open Season in East Carolina Tournament
8.27.26 | Volleyball
WHO Hampton (0-0) vs. Bethune-Cookman, Radford, East Carolina
WHEN 2pm - Friday
11am - Saturday
7pm - Saturday
WHERE Greenville, N.C. - Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum
GAME NOTES Hampton
HAMPTON, Va. (Aug. 27, 2026) … The Hampton University volleyball team is set to open their 2026 season at East Carolina this weekend. The Pirates will tangle with Bethune-Cookman Friday afternoon before taking on Radford and East Carolina on Saturday.
ABOUT HAMPTON:
The Pirates return eight players from a season ago, while adding five transfers and three freshman. Racquel Frazier led the team in kills a season ago with 232, as Katerina Pappa (190) and Jaya Rimm (107) each added over 100. Defensively, Lillian Campbell was the team's leader in blocks with 50.0 and Maria Clara Andrade registered a team best 147 digs.
Janiah Robinson joins the Pirates as a middle blocker from Niagara where she recorded 362 kills and 250.0 blocks in three seasons. Ana Luiza Caminha Matos and Belen Ferrufino are expected to be the team's setters in 2026. Caminha Matos recorded 1,180 assists in 2025 at Indian Hill Community College (IA) while Ferrufino registered 1,131 at Mineral Area College (MO).
ABOUT BETHUNE-COOKMAN:
The Wildcats finished the 2025 season with a 14-15 record, while going 11-5 in the SWAC. Kaleigh Williams was selected as the SWAC preseason Blocker of the Year ahead of the 2026 season after recording 123.0 blocks in 2025.
Bethune-Cookman looks to replace three players from a year ago who recorded 200 kills or more. Nola Hemphill returns after registering a team best 525 assists in 2025. Defensively, the Wildcats had three players record 200 digs or more, while Williams led the team in blocks.
Hampton and Bethune-Cookman have a 6-6 record head-to-head with the Pirates winning the most recent matchup in 2012 3-2.
ABOUT RADFORD:
The Pirates and Highlanders will meet for the first time since 2021 Saturday morning, as Radford holds the all-time head-to-head record of 6-3 over Hampton. Radford finished 2025 with a 10-20 record.
Olivia Ryno returns after leading the team with 211 kills a season ago, while Aubrey Hatch (197) and Taryn Roberts (175) each added 175 kills or more. Lea Gage is set to be the team's setter after registering 525 assists a season ago. Roberts (77.0) and Hatch (55.0) each recorded 50.0 blocks or more on the defensive side of the ball for the Highlanders as well.
ABOUT East Carolina:
East Carolina took down Hampton 3-0 inside of Holland Hall a season ago, on their way to a 12-15 record in 2025. The Pirates hold the all-time record over Hampton 5-1.
Angeles Alderete and Taryn Gilreath were named to the American Preseason All-Conference team ahead of the 2026 season. Alderete missed the 2025 season due to injury, but has been named the Conference Freshman of the Year in 2022, and selected to the All-Conference team in 2023 and 2024. She has registered 1130 kills in her career. Gilreath recorded a team high, 767 assists in 2025, while adding 202 digs on defense.
SETTING THE TABLE
Hampton is set to have Ana Luiza Caminha Matos and Belen Ferrufino as the team's setters in the 2026 season. Both players recorded over 1,000 kills in 2025 with Caminha Matos recording 1,180 and Ferrufino having 1,131. The Pirates recorded just 678 assists in 2025 as a team.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
Hampton returns six players who played in 20 matches or more in 2025. Racquel Frazier (232), Katerina Pappa (190) and Jaya Rimm (107) all recorded 100 kills or more in their first season in a Pirate uniform. Maria Clara Andrade recorded 147 digs in 2025 after just 81 in 2024. Dila Derendeli appeared in a career-best 22 matches in 2025, while Lillian Campbell led the team with 50.0 blocks.
WORLD WIDE PIRATES
The Pirates have quite the variety of areas and regions on its 2026 roster. Six players are from overseas, while 10 players represent eight states. Overseas Pirates hail from Turkey, Greece, Bolivia, Poland and Brazil, while the states of Maryland, Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, Ohio, New York, California and Virginia are also represented.
UP NEXT
The Pirates return to action Wednesday, Sept. 2 when they travel to local rival Norfolk State. The match is set for 6 p.m.
