DeLand, Fla. — Stetson University volleyball opened the 2026 season with a win over Merrimack, pushed FIU to five sets and fell to Florida Atlantic at the FAU Invitational. The Hatters will now face Bethune-Cookman in a home-and-home series, beginning Friday, Sept. 4 at 6:00 p.m. in Daytona Beach before returning to Insight Credit Union Arena at the Edmunds Center for the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 5:00 p.m. Saturday's home opener will feature a schedule poster giveaway, followed by postgame autographs.

Scouting the Hatters
Freshman Andrea Diaz Dominguez leads the Hatters offensively after an impressive opening weekend, totaling 25 kills and 30 points across 12 sets. She also contributed four assists, 40 digs and three blocks. Diaz Dominguez made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut against Merrimack, recording a career-high 15 kills and 26 digs in the victory. Lelia Fitz also made her presence felt in her first weekend, totaling 23 kills and 11 digs.

Freshman Sofia Torcello has been a force at the net, leading the ASUN with 18 blocks through the opening weekend while adding 14 kills. Torcello recorded seven blocks in her first collegiate match against FIU and followed that performance with another seven blocks against Merrimack. Vanessa Shevchenko has directed the Hatters' offense, totaling 59 assists while adding 24 digs and 13 kills.

As a team, Stetson has recorded 123 kills through 12 sets, averaging 10.3 per set while hitting .194. The Hatters are also averaging 9.4 assists, 14.2 digs and 2.9 blocks per set. Stetson currently leads the ASUN in both blocks per set and total blocks with 35.

Scouting the Opponent
Bethune-Cookman also went 1-2 during its opening weekend, falling to Hampton and East Carolina before completing a reverse sweep of Radford. Moriah Johnson was named the SWAC Newcomer of the Week after leading the Wildcats with 43 kills while hitting .255. She also contributed 25 digs and three service aces. Defensively, Nola Hemphill has recorded 30 digs across 11 sets for an average of 2.73 per set, while five different Wildcats have recorded at least three blocks.

As a team, Bethune-Cookman has totaled 111 kills while hitting .116. The Wildcats are averaging 8.4 assists, 14.9 digs and 0.9 blocks per set.

Series History
Friday's matchup will mark the 71st all-time meeting between Stetson and Bethune-Cookman. The Hatters hold a 64–6 advantage in the all-time series and will look to add to their series lead.

Fans can watch the game at Bethune-Cookman on The CatEye Network on Youtube and the game at Stetson on ESPN+. Live stats for each match are available at GoHatters.com. Follow Stetson Athletics on social media for the latest updates and coverage.

About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.