AUSTIN, Texas – A new era of Concordia University Texas volleyball begins in 2026 as the Tornados prepare for their first season under head coach Annika Canaba.
Canaba takes over the program after spending the previous two seasons as head coach at Sul Ross State, where she guided the Lobos through their transition to NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference.
Canaba joined the Tornados in January and had an opportunity to begin building relationships with several of her student-athletes during Concordia's inaugural beach volleyball season in the spring. That experience allowed the first-year head coach to establish a foundation before turning her attention toward the fall.
"I'm extremely excited and I feel super blessed and honored to be here," Canaba said. "I think we have such a great group of girls that have already set the standard for the year, even just this spring. So, I'm really excited to get started and see them compete."
RETURNING CORE
The Tornados return several players who gained valuable experience during the 2025 season, highlighted by junior Brooklynne Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald established herself as Concordia's top offensive option during her sophomore campaign, leading the Tornados with 369 kills while averaging 3.84 kills per set. She also contributed 308 digs and 32 total blocks, displaying an ability to make an impact throughout the rotation.
Now an upperclassman, Fitzgerald will take on an increased leadership role after learning from the veterans who came before her during her first two seasons at CTX.
"I've been led in some great ways," Fitzgerald said. "They taught me a lot about being honest with my team, how to talk to my team, how to group each other together, how to come all under one goal and be a unit together."
Fitzgerald has also set high expectations for herself entering her junior campaign, including pursuing 1,000 career kills and First Team All-SCAC honors. Beyond her individual goals, Fitzgerald said the returning group enters 2026 motivated by how last season ended.
"We all kind of have a fire under us from last season," Fitzgerald said. "We really want to hone in on that, and we really want to show up and show out for the other teams in our conference."
Katherine Dedear also returns after an injury cut short what had been a promising first collegiate season. The 5-foot-11 middle blocker/right side produced 52 kills and hit .233 across 35 sets during her freshman campaign. She also totaled 10 blocks before being sidelined.
Her return gives Canaba another offensive option and a young player who gained meaningful collegiate experience before her season was cut short.
Sophomore Jade Romero also returns after gaining valuable experience in the back row as a freshman. The libero/defensive specialist recorded 124 digs across 48 sets and posted a .946 reception percentage. Romero enters her second season with an opportunity to take on an increased role defensively for the Tornados.
Concordia also brings back Aniyah Tompkins, McKinley Grimm and Kennedy Carter, giving Canaba a returning group with collegiate experience to help lead the program through its coaching transition.
Canaba believes that experience will be particularly valuable during her first season.
"Some of the best teams are player-led teams," Canaba said. "I feel like this group of girls wants to really hold each other accountable and set a high standard for this year."
NEW FACES
Concordia added several newcomers who could compete for immediate roles, highlighted by transfers Aubrey Hughes and Katelyn Marion.
Hughes arrives after an impressive freshman season at Springfield College. The 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Liberty Hill, Texas helped Springfield finish 23-8 and earn an at-large berth to the 2025 NCAA Division III Tournament. Hughes capped her first collegiate season by earning AVCA Division III All-Region 2 Honorable Mention recognition.
Her combination of size, efficiency and collegiate experience gives the Tornados a potential immediate-impact player in the middle and another weapon in the attack.
Marion adds another experienced option to the front row. The 6-foot sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker joins CTX after spending her freshman season at Trinity University.
Freshman libero Hailey Dyer is another newcomer who could compete for time in the back row. Dyer arrives at Concordia as a four-time TAIAO 3A All-State selection and the all-time digs leader at her high school. She also earned Defensive MVP honors and helped her team capture the 2024 NCHVC national championship.
The newcomers will join a roster with a relatively even mix of underclassmen and upperclassmen, creating opportunities for several players to establish roles during Canaba's first season.
The returning players have already had an opportunity to begin building a relationship with their new head coach through the beach volleyball season, something Fitzgerald believes will benefit the team this fall.
"It was really fun to do something new and experience new things together and grow and bond," Fitzgerald said. "It was a really nice time to get to know each other on a personal level and make that coach and player bond."
THE 2026 SLATE
Concordia will be tested immediately when it opens the regular season on the road against Mary Hardin-Baylor on Sept. 1 in Belton.
The Tornados then travel to Sherman for four matches in two days, facing Lyon & Belhaven on Sept. 4 before taking on McMurry & Hardin-Simmons on Sept. 5. CTX's home opener is scheduled for Sept. 15 against Schreiner at the Deb & Don Christian Fieldhouse.
Following a road match at Hardin-Simmons, Concordia begins SCAC competition Sept. 27 at St. Thomas in Houston.
The conference schedule will feature two SCAC crossover weekends. CTX faces the Ozarks & Hendrix on Oct. 3 in Seguin before later meeting Centenary, Austin College, & LeTourneau Oct. 23-24 in Sherman. The Tornados will also face Southwestern and Texas Lutheran on the road during conference play.
Concordia will have several opportunities to compete in front of its home crowd during October, hosting Colorado College on Oct. 16, Dallas on Oct. 17, and UMHB on Oct 20.
The final stretch includes road matches against Colorado College and Dallas before CTX returns home for its final three regular-season contests. Concordia hosts St. Thomas & ETBU on Nov. 7 before welcoming Texas Lutheran to the Fieldhouse for Senior Day on Nov. 8.
The season will culminate with the SCAC Volleyball Tournament, Nov. 13-14, hosted by LeTourneau in Longview, Texas.
UNITY AND RELENTLESSNESS
For Canaba, her first season at Concordia will be about more than simply installing a new system. Two words have been at the center of the culture she wants the Tornados to establish: unity and relentless.
"Those are two things that we're really going to hone in on for sure, just sticking together all the way throughout the season," Canaba said. "And then also being relentless, just giving our best effort every single day, showing up for each other and just really doing our best."
Concordia showed flashes of its potential throughout last season. Now, the Tornados will look to turn those moments into greater consistency while establishing a new identity under Canaba.
Fitzgerald believes the goal is for that group to become a team opponents know they cannot overlook.
"We want to come out and be winning," Fitzgerald said. "We want to be super competitive and be a team that other teams kind of are walking on eggshells because we want to show up and show out for them and show up and show out for our school."
With a new head coach, a challenging schedule and a group motivated to raise the program's standard, Concordia enters 2026 looking to establish a new foundation and position itself to make noise in the SCAC.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX volleyball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit the Concordia Texas Athletics website.
