MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team has announced its 2023 schedule, highlighted by a program-record 31 matches overall and 20 California Pacific Conference dates.
Entering his eighth season, head coach Ai Prachumsri built his nonconference schedule around multi-team events and single matches against opponents coming off national tournament appearances. UC Merced's strong nonconference schedule will be followed by the Cal Pac slate.
Prior to the start of the official season, the Bobcats will head to Santa Cruz to scrimmage the Banana Slugs. A year ago, UC Santa Cruz finished #25 in the NCAA Division III rankings and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015.
The 2023 season will officially begin at Menlo College for a triangular on August 23, facing the host Oaks and perennial national championship contender Southern Oregon University.
Next, UC Merced heads south, Aug. 25-26, to compete in the prestigious HIU Summer Slam in Fullerton. Hosted by Hope International University, the Bobcats will play The College of Idaho, Doane University, The Master's University, and Hope.
Another highlight of the early season is the Saint Katherine Invite set to begin on August 31 in San Marcos. While there, the Bobcats will face first-time opponents Friends University and OUAZ on day one. The following day, the Bobcats will take on Carroll College and Life Pacific University for the first time in five years.
UC Merced will cap off nonconference play at Jessup University, who like Menlo College, was just accepted into the NCAA Division II on July 13. Jessup is coming off their best ever season, a year which saw the Warriors when the GSAC Championship and earn a berth to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
The Bobcats will kick off the conference schedule with their home opener against La Sierra University on September 7. The Cal Pac slate features 20 matches overall, with the Bobcats playing ten opponents in a home-and-home series.
UC Merced's Cal Pac and home opener will be followed by home matches against Westcliff University (Sept. 8) and University of Antelope Valley (Sept. 9).
After the homestand, six of the Bobcats next seven games will be played on the road starting in Southern California at University of Saint Katherine (Sept. 14) and Providence Christian College (Sept. 15) on back-to-back nights.
The following week, the Bobcats will square off with Pacific Union College in Angwin, Calif., on Sept. 21. The lone home match sandwiched between the road-heavy portion of the conference schedule is Simpson University on Sept. 22.
The Bobcats will play the three most recent champions on three consecutive nights in Arizona September 28-30. 2022 Cal Pac Regular Season Champion Benedictine University Mesa will host the Bobcats first, followed by 2021 Cal Pac Tournament Champion Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and lastly 2022 Cal Pac Tournament Champion Park University Gilbert.
An exhibition match against Stanton University is scheduled for October 7 before the Bobcats play all ten Cal Pac opponents for the second time.
The Bobcats will host Providence (Oct. 12), Saint Katherine (Oct. 14), Embry-Riddle (Oct. 26), Park (Oct. 27), BenU Mesa (Oct. 28), and Pacific Union (Nov. 4). The Bobcats will have road matches at Westcliff (Oct. 19), UAV (Oct. 20), La Sierra (Oct. 21), and Simpson (Nov. 3).
The California Pacific Conference Championships are scheduled for November 9-11 in San Marcos at the USK Sports Complex.
Fans can view the full schedule here.
