Lenoir-Rhyne weekend pregame report: September 18–20
Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Wingate volleyball Friday night, then women’s soccer, volleyball and football Saturday before a Sunday men’s soccer match. Football meets unbeaten Mars Hill; volleyball opens against a Wingate team sharing its 3–1 conference record. The tennis teams also begin a…
SAC · SEPTEMBER 18–20, 2026 · FREE PREGAME EDITION
Hickory hosts a concentrated weekend of conference tests
Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Wingate volleyball Friday night, then women’s soccer, volleyball and football Saturday before a Sunday men’s soccer match. Football meets unbeaten Mars Hill; volleyball opens against a Wingate team sharing its 3–1 conference record. The tennis teams also begin a tournament in Georgia.
Your weekend schedule
Times are Eastern. TBA means the source has not supplied a confirmed start. Check the linked athletic source before travel; schedules can change.
| Date | Sport | Matchup / event | Start (ET) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18 | Men's Tennis | at UNG Tennis Fall Invitational | TBA | Dahlonega, Ga. / UNG Tennis Complex |
| Sep 18 | Women's Tennis | at UNG Tennis Fall Invitational | TBA | Dahlonega, Ga. / UNG Tennis Complex |
| Sep 18 | Women's Volleyball | vs. Wingate | 7:00 P.M. | Hickory, N.C. |
| Sep 19 | Football | vs. Mars Hill | 6:00 P.M. | Hickory, N.C. |
| Sep 19 | Men's Cross Country | at Converse Invitational | 9:00 A.M. | Spartanburg, S.C. |
| Sep 19 | Men's Tennis | at UNG Tennis Fall Invitational (day two) | TBA | Dahlonega, Ga. / UNG Tennis Complex |
| Sep 19 | Women's Cross Country | at Converse Invitational | 9:45 A.M. | Spartanburg, S.C. |
| Sep 19 | Women's Soccer | vs. Columbus State | 12:00 P.M. | Hickory, N.C. |
| Sep 19 | Women's Tennis | at UNG Tennis Fall Invitational (day two) | TBA | Dahlonega, Ga. / UNG Tennis Complex |
| Sep 19 | Women's Volleyball | vs. Coker | 2:00 P.M. | Hickory, N.C. |
| Sep 20 | Men's Soccer | vs. Wingate | 3:00 P.M. | Hickory, N.C. |
Pregame position
| Sport | Overall | SAC |
|---|---|---|
| Football | 2-1 | 1-0 |
| Women's Volleyball | 5-3 | 3-1 |
| Men's Soccer | 0-4-2 | 0-1-1 |
| Women's Soccer | 3-3 | 1-1 |
Records are the official SAC standings read Friday morning, September 18, before this weekend’s play. Soccer records include draws; a two-part record has no recorded draw.
What to watch
Football
Watch whether possession-ending mistakes and stalled drives change the game more than total yardage. A close previous result is context, not a prediction of another close finish.
Women's Volleyball
Watch serve reception and the ability to end the opponent’s scoring runs. Friday and Saturday are separate matches; the second preview baseline will need refreshing after Friday’s result.
Men's Soccer
Watch the quality and timing of chances rather than treating every shot as equally dangerous. A recent high-scoring result does not establish that the next opponent will permit the same opportunities.
Women's Soccer
Watch how the team responds to the opening goal and whether it creates repeatable chances. Conference and nonconference records describe different schedules and should be read separately.
Tennis
Use the posted event format and individual results to evaluate the opening fall matches. Tournament entries and exhibition listings should not be converted into a team dual score without an official result.
Cross country
Follow the scoring five and the gap between the first and fifth finishers. Course, distance and the entered lineup matter; comparing raw times from different courses can give a misleading picture.