JOPLIN, Mo. – Missouri Southern Athletics continues its fall season this week, with four teams competing both at home and on the road. Volleyball returns to action with four matches at the Gorilla Classic in Pittsburg, Kansas. Soccer opens its home schedule with a pair of matches at Fred G. Hughes Stadium, while Football hosts Upper Iowa on Saturday for the Lions' home opener. Meanwhile, Cross Country opens its 2026 campaign at the Bearcat Invitational in Bolivar, Missouri.
Details for each event are listed below.
Fall MSSU Athletic tickets are currently on sale online. Fans can also purchase an MIAA Network subscription to support Missouri Southern Athletics and catch all the Lions action this 2026-27 season.
Head football coach Atiba Bradley, redshirt senior athlete Narkel LeFlore, and redshirt senior defensive back Noah Conner spoke with the media on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, ahead of MSSU's 2026 home opener. The Lions will face Upper Iowa University Saturday, Sept. 5 at Fred G. Hughes Stadium in Joplin, Missouri. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., CT. Press Conference presented by Moe's Southwest Grill.
Volleyball
Gorilla Classic
Date/Time: Wednesday, Sep. 2 • 5 p.m., CT
Location: Pittsburg, Kan.
Opponent: Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Live Stats
Live Video
Date/Time: Thursday, Sep. 3 • 9 a.m., CT
Location: Pittsburg, Kan.
Opponent: Arkansas Tech University
Live Stats
Live Video
Date/Time: Thursday, Sep. 3 • 4:30 p.m., CT
Location: Pittsburg, Kan.
Opponent: William Jewell College
Live Stats
Live Video
Date/Time: Friday, Sep. 4 • 4:30 p.m., CT
Location: Pittsburg, Kan.
Opponent: Truman State University
Live Stats
Live Video
Soccer
Date/Time: Friday, Sep. 4 • 7:30 p.m., CT
Location: Joplin, Mo. – Fred G. Hughes Stadium
Opponent: Ouachita Baptist University
Live Stats
Live Video
Tickets
Date/Time: Sunday, Sep. 6 • 10:30 a.m., CT
Location: Joplin, Mo. – Fred G. Hughes Stadium
Opponent: UT Dallas
Live Stats
Live Video
Tickets
Football
Date/Time: Saturday, Sep. 5 • 6 p.m., CT
Location: Joplin, Mo. – Fred G. Hughes Stadium
Opponent: Upper Iowa University
Live Stats
Live Video
Live Radio
Tickets
Cross Country
Bearcat Invitational
Date/Time: Saturday, Sep. 5 • 7:30 a.m., CT
Location: Bolivar, Mo.
Host: Southwest Baptist University
