With regular-season and tournament titles a consistent goal, however, the Wildcats bring back only seven returners on a 17-player roster for the 2026 campaign that aims to return WSU to the top of the league.

Jeremiah Larsen enters his 12th season leading the program looking for newcomers to make an impact toward that goal, and freshman outside hitter Lexie Carlson was ready for the challenge.

Carlson led WSU in kills in all three matches of its home Wildcat Invitational and the Wildcats posted victories over San Francisco, San Jose State and Belmont to start the 2026 season 3-0.

Carlson, a South Jordan native and Bingham High graduate, totaled 48 kills in the three matches and hit a stellar .396.

“How good is Lexie Carlson?” Larsen said in a Saturday postgame interview posted to WSU social media. “She did a heck of a job.”

WSU hit .255 for the weekend (while limiting opponents to .184), totaled 24 service aces (or eight per match), and averaged 11 blocks per match to opponents’ five per match.

“I really like how we fought. Every game we had to fight and compete,” Larsen said. “Just overall, it was a nice team effort by everybody.”

WSU next goes to California for games Friday and Saturday against Cal State Bakersfield.

WSU 3, USF 1

Weber State opened the weekend with a 25-18, 22-25, 25-13, 25-16 win Friday over San Francisco.

While Carlson totaled 10 kills, returning sophomore middle blocker Ziya Munyer served five aces and senior outside hitter Maggie Larsen added four to a team total of 13 aces. Senior opposite Rose Moore had eight kills.

WSU 3, SJSU 0

Weber made quick work of San Jose State on Saturday morning with a victory of 25-15, 25-22, 25-21. Carlson led with 17 kills and Moore 13. Morgan Pratt totaled 25 assists and Marley Pratt had 13 digs. Moore and Munyer each had 3.5 blocks.

WSU 3, BELMONT 2

Belmont went home to Nashville having played three five-set matches, beating SJSU but losing Saturday to USF and Weber. The Wildcats jumped to an early lead and took home the fifth set for a 25-23, 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-11 win.

Carlson racked up 21 kills to finish the weekend, with Moore adding 18 and newcomer Tennille Gonder (junior from Oak City, Utah, and Eastern Washington transfer) posting 14 kills.

The competitive match going the distance meant Morgan Pratt racked up 55 assists. Stacia Barker totaled 5.5 blocks, and Moore and Munyer each added three blocks.

WSU SOCCER FALLS ON ROAD

Weber State women’s soccer took a 3-0 loss Saturday night at Long Beach State, dropping the Wildcats to a 2-2-1 mark for the season.

Long Beach is now 4-0-1, making program history by posting shutouts in five straight matches and by going unbeaten in five straight games to start a season. The Beach dominated with a 17-6 shots advantage and 9-1 in shots on goal.

WSU plays one match in the coming week, going north to Stockton to face Pacific on Thursday.

The Wildcats next return home with matches against South Dakota State (Sept. 10) and UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 13).