Baylor Volleyball: Student Tickets, Schedule & Match Day Guide
Baylor volleyball doesn't get the same fanfare as football or men's basketball, but if you're sleeping on these matches, you're missing out on some of the best free entertainment on campus. The Bears have made the NCAA Tournament 10 consecutive seasons under head coach Ryan McGuyre, and the 2026 team started the season ranked #21 in the country. Home matches are free for Baylor students — and the atmosphere for Big 12 rivalry games can get genuinely loud. Here's everything you need to know to show up and enjoy it.
What Is Baylor Volleyball?
Baylor Volleyball is a Big 12 Conference program competing at the NCAA Division I level. The Bears play home matches at the Ferrell Center (2400 S 4th St, Waco, TX 76706) for marquee matchups, and at Marrs-McLean Gym on main campus for select mid-week matches. The season runs from late August through November, with the Big 12 Conference Championship in November and NCAA Tournament play in December for teams that qualify.
Under Ryan McGuyre, Baylor Volleyball has built one of the strongest stretches in program history. Ten straight NCAA Tournament appearances is a genuine achievement — this is a well-coached, competitive team that takes the court expecting to win conference games.
How to Get Student Tickets (They're Free)
Student tickets to all Baylor Volleyball home matches are free with a valid Baylor student ID. No reservation form, no ticket lottery, no portal. Show up, scan your ID at the gate, and you're in.
A few things worth knowing before you go:
- For non-conference matches, you can arrive right at match time and get a good seat without any issue.
- For Big 12 rivalry matches — Iowa State, Texas, Texas Tech, Kansas — arrive 15–20 minutes early. These games draw noticeably larger student crowds.
- At the Ferrell Center, the student section fills from the lower bowl near center court. Earlier arrival means better sightlines.
- At Marrs-McLean Gym, it's open seating with no formal student section. The venue holds around 300 spectators. Check baylorbears.com before each match to confirm which venue is hosting.
The 2026 Baylor Volleyball Season
The 2026 season has the Bears in the mix for another Big 12 title run, with home conference matches against North Texas, Florida, UCF, Colorado, Arizona, Houston, Kansas, TCU, BYU, Iowa State, and Arizona State scheduled from September through November.
The Big 12 has expanded with Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State all now in the conference — which means new opponents and new rivalries on the schedule. Baylor competing near the top of this expanded field says something about the program's consistency under McGuyre.
For the best atmosphere, aim for the Iowa State, Kansas, or Texas home matchups — Big 12 title contenders that consistently bring the most energy in the Ferrell Center.
Where Matches Are Played
Ferrell Center
The Ferrell Center (2400 S 4th St, Waco, TX 76706) is Baylor's 10,284-seat main arena — the same venue where the Lady Bears Basketball team plays. It's about 0.5 to 0.7 miles from 19Eleven Apartments, which puts it at a 10–12 minute walk via S 8th Street. Students living on the south corridor have arguably the easiest access to the Ferrell Center of any off-campus complex near Baylor.
For volleyball, the arena is configured with a reduced seating setup — not all sections are open for most matches — but when the student section fills in for rivalry games, the atmosphere is real. Parking is available in the Ferrell Center lot or on surrounding streets; most 19Eleven residents just walk.
Marrs-McLean Gym
Marrs-McLean Gym sits on Baylor's main campus and hosts select Tuesday and Wednesday matches. It seats around 300 spectators and has a completely different feel from the Ferrell Center — no arena production, just volleyball, close to the court. If you've never watched college volleyball before, a Marrs-McLean match is actually a better introduction. You'll hear the players calling out sets, coaches adjusting in real time, and every blocked spike happens practically in front of you.
Distance from 19Eleven is roughly 0.8 miles to Marrs-McLean Gym.
What to Expect at a Match
Volleyball is one of the faster sports to follow once you understand the scoring. Here's the quick version:
- Matches are best of five sets. Each set is first to 25 points (the deciding fifth set is first to 15).
- A rally ends when the ball hits the floor or goes out of bounds — no clock, just continuous action.
- A full match typically runs 90 to 120 minutes, though a sweep (3–0) can finish in under 90.
- You can watch all six courts simultaneously in your field of view — it's naturally easy to track whichever rally is most intense.
What makes volleyball especially good for a group outing is that you can walk in knowing almost nothing and be invested by the second set. The rules click fast, the scoring is continuous, and there's no dead time between plays.
What to bring:
- Baylor student ID (required for free admission)
- Baylor green-and-gold gear
- Layers — the Ferrell Center runs cool; Marrs-McLean gym temperature varies by time of year
- No clear bag policy required for volleyball (confirm at baylorbears.com before each match)
How Volleyball Stacks Up Against Other Baylor Sports
| Sport | Venue | Student Tickets | Season | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volleyball | Ferrell Center / Marrs-McLean | Free | Aug–Nov | 90–120 min |
| Women's Basketball | Ferrell Center | Free | Nov–Mar | ~2 hrs |
| Baseball | Baylor Ballpark | Free | Feb–May | ~2.5 hrs |
| Softball | Getterman Stadium | Free | Feb–May | ~1.5 hrs |
| Football | McLane Stadium | Lottery | Sep–Nov | ~3.5 hrs |
Volleyball is one of the few sports where you can decide day-of and still get a good experience. No planning, no ticket lottery — just show up.
Why It's Worth Going This Fall
Fall volleyball season runs August through November, which is the same window when students are settling into the academic year and figuring out what Waco actually offers. Baylor volleyball matches give you a reason to get out of the apartment on a weeknight, spend 90 minutes watching a competitive team, and be back home before it's late.
If you're living at 19Eleven on S 8th Street, the walkability alone makes it easy. The Ferrell Center is 10–12 minutes on foot — close enough to be a spontaneous plan, not a scheduled event. You don't need a car, a designated driver, or a parking strategy. Leave, watch volleyball, walk back. That's the whole trip.
For groups of four to eight, volleyball works better than a lot of alternatives. You can talk during the match without missing anything critical, the competitive moments are genuine, and unlike a movie, you're watching something that can actually go either way.
If you're already following other Baylor sports, check out the Baylor Baseball student guide and Baylor Softball guide for the spring semester options — also free for students, also walkable from 19Eleven's location on S 8th Street.
Plan Your First Match
The 2026 Baylor Volleyball schedule runs through November. Check baylorbears.com for the current home schedule, venue listings for each match, and any last-minute changes.
For the Baylor game day experience more broadly — including where to eat before or after an event near campus — the game day guide covers the full picture.
Ready to Be a 10-Minute Walk from the Ferrell Center?
At 19Eleven, you're less than a mile from Baylor's main athletic venues on a property designed for students who want to be close to campus without living in a dorm. Loft-style units with exposed beams and polished concrete floors, a gated community with controlled access, and floor plans from 1-bedroom to 4-bedroom starting at $1,035/month.
View our floor plans or schedule a tour to see the space before the spring semester leasing rush starts.
