BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County volleyball will open a new chapter this fall as first-year head coach Kristen Isaac leads the Lady Cardinals into the 2026 season.
Martin County released a 24-date schedule that features preseason events, the All “A” Classic and a full slate of home-and-away matchups against several familiar mountain opponents.
The Lady Cardinals will get their first taste of competition Aug. 8 at the Preseason Panorama at Shelby Valley High School. Their regular-season opener is set for Aug. 17 at Lawrence County, followed by a road match against Floyd Central on Aug. 18.
Isaac said the effort her players have put in during the summer has created plenty of anticipation for the season ahead.
“I’m excited to see the growth this group has had over the offseason,” Isaac said. “The players have put in a lot of work to improve individually and as a team. Their energy, commitment, and willingness to push each other has been exciting to watch, and I’m looking forward to seeing that translate onto the court.”
Martin County will compete in the Champion of the Mountains event Aug. 22 at Pikeville High School before welcoming Lawrence County to Inez for the home opener Aug. 24.
The Lady Cardinals will remain at home Aug. 27 for a first-round All “A” Classic matchup against Phelps.
Isaac will rely on a trio of seniors to help set the tone for a roster that also includes several younger players.
“We have three great seniors who will definitely be fun to watch,” Isaac said. “They lead by example with their work ethic, communication, and competitiveness every day. All three show great leadership and their ability to guide our younger players will be a huge asset this season.”
The September schedule opens with road matches against Paintsville Independent and June Buchanan. Martin County will then host Paintsville on Sept. 7 before traveling to Tug Valley and Prestonsburg.
A three-match homestand follows against Pike Central, Magoffin County and Belfry. The Lady Cardinals will close September with road contests at East Ridge, Magoffin County and Johnson Central before hosting Tug Valley on Sept. 30.
Martin County will play six matches in October, including home contests against June Buchanan, Johnson Central, Prestonsburg and East Ridge.
Isaac said the Lady Cardinals cannot afford to overlook any opponent, especially when district positioning is at stake.
“Every match is important,” Isaac said. “There is not a team on our schedule we can look over. We will go game by game with some great competition to improve over the season. We know we will have to earn every win, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
While wins and postseason success remain important, Isaac wants the Lady Cardinals to establish habits and a culture that can benefit the program beyond one season.
“Our biggest goal is to improve every day, play our best volleyball when it matters most, and to represent Martin County with pride,” Isaac said. “We want to build a team culture centered on hard work, accountability, and supporting one another. If we stay committed to those values, we believe we can accomplish some special things this season.”