LAKE CHARLES—McNeese first year head volleyball coach Tayler Gray will make her collegiate debut this weekend when the Cowgirls open the 2026 season at the Sam Houston Bearkat Invitational.
 
Not only will it be Gray's first matches as a Division I head coach, but it will also be a special weekend for her as she returns to her alma mater.
 
"I wanted to take my team back to the place that gave me everything," said Gray. "The Huntsville community and Bearkat nation is going to be proud of the product that we are producing at McNeese."
 
McNeese will face Miami (OH.) at 10 a.m., and Cal State Fullerton at 4 p.m. on Friday.  The Cowgirls will conclude the weekend with a 2 p.m. match against Sam Houston on Saturday.
 
The Sam Houston match will have extra meaning as Tayler's mother, Brenda is the head coach of the Bearkats.  Brenda, also an alum of Sam Houston, is entering her 44^th season as a head coach, all at Sam Houston with 787 career wins under her belt.  Brenda is very familiar with the Southland Conference, having been named the Southland Conference "Coach of the Year" three times.
 
"It's special that I get to see my mom coach against three opponents this weekend," said Tayler.  "I had a hand in recruiting all but two of the Sam Houston players that are currently on their roster.  It's the only program that I want to be successful besides McNeese."
 
The mother-daughter head coaches are the only NCAA D1 volleyball head coaches this season and are believed to be the first in NCAA history.
 
"Tayler is ready to be a head coach," said Brenda.  "She was with me for a total of 14 years, both as a player and assistant coach.  It was bittersweet when McNeese called her about the job but it's a good opportunity.
 
"For both of us to be head coaches right now is so exciting, we just love sports and we both kind of went down the same path to get where we are.  Time does fly, it's her beginning and its my end.  I couldn't be happier that its…coach Gray and coach Gray."
 
Not only will Tayler face her mother on Saturday, but she is returning to the school where she played both volleyball and softball for the Bearkats, earned three degrees including two master's degrees and spent 11 years as an assistant coach on her mother's coaching staff.
 
"I'm excited to show my family our product," Tayler said.  "I'm excited to just be back in my favorite venue (Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum), I've done so many things in that venue but when we play them, my No. 1 job is to win."
 
Sam Houston is also the university where her father (Tim) played football, and her brother Timothy was a 4-year letterman as a pitcher for the Bearkats.
 
Come Saturday afternoon, only one coach Gray will add a win to their resume, but in reality, the real winners will be their respective school, their players, and volleyball in general for having a head coach who is a teacher of the game, someone who is passionate about the sport, a coach that is very energetic, a great motivator, and someone who loves sports.