The upcoming week promises a flurry of activity for Eastern Washington University’s athletic programs, as teams across soccer, volleyball and football gear up for pivotal contests that will set the tone for the 2026 season.
Men’s and women’s soccer will begin their campaigns on the road, opening with a match at the University of Illinois at Chicago on August 20 before traveling to face Western Illinois three days later. Both games mark the first tests for a squad that has already posted a 2‑0 record in the early season, highlighted by clean‑sheet victories over Mount Royal and Bucknell.
Key contributors such as sophomore forward Ella Hyde, who recorded her first career goal against Mount Royal, and midfielder Mia Miconi, who added the insurance marker in the 83rd minute against Bucknell, have already begun to shape the team’s attacking rhythm. Goalkeeper Payton Hyde’s seven saves in her collegiate debut have helped the Eagles preserve shutouts in each of their first two outings.
Volleyball will step onto the court for an exhibition clash with Central Washington on August 18, a match that will showcase a roster bolstered by ten returning players and seven new transfers. The following week the team will travel to the Seattle U Tournament, where it will meet North Dakota, Chicago State and host Seattle University in a test of depth before conference play begins.
A packed schedule ahead
Football will close out fall camp with its second and final scrimmage on August 21, a session that will serve as the last opportunity for coaches to fine‑tune schemes before the regular‑season opener against Northern Arizona on August 29. The upcoming matchup will be the first test of the Eagles’ preparation after a 4‑4 conference finish and a 5‑7 overall record in 2025.
Preseason accolades have already been bestowed upon standouts Jaylon Jenkins and Isaiah Perez, who earned Big Sky All‑Conference honors, underscoring the program’s growing competitiveness within the league.
The convergence of early victories, emerging talent and a rigorous non‑conference slate reflects the university’s ambition to climb the Big Sky standings and assert its presence in Division I athletics.