MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's volleyball team has unveiled its 2025 schedule, which will feature 27 matches overall with an 18-match CCAA slate as part of Bobcats first year of NCAA Division II competition.

The Bobcats will play ten matches inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium, including hosting the 2024 national runner-up San Francisco State and two of the last five national champions (Cal State LA & Cal State San Bernardino).

First, UC Merced will scrimmage UC Santa Cruz at home on August 22 and then scrimmage Dominican and Cal State Monterey Bay in San Rafael on August 30.

The 2025 campaign officially starts September 5 in Fresno at the Sunbird Invitational. The Bobcats start the tournament with familiar opponent and former NAIA powerhouse Westmont before taking on Menlo and Fresno Pacific the following day. Menlo is also a familiar opponent as the two squads have gone head-to-head 24 times, including twice last year.

UC Merced will welcome Jessup for the 2025 home opener on September 8, a team that the Bobcats have played a pair thrilling five-set affairs against each of the last two years.

The Bobcats will make the school's first ever trip to Hawai'i September 11-13 for the Aloha State Showdown hosted by perennial NCAA Division West Region contender and 2024 PacWest Champion Chaminade. The Bobcats will play Western Washington, Hawai'i Hilo, Hawai'i Pacific, and Chaminade in Honolulu.

A return trip to Jessup on September 16 will wrap up the Bobcats nonconference schedule.

The Bobcats open up CCAA play hosting perennial conference contender Cal State San Bernardino on September 18.

UC Merced then heads to the central coast to take on Cal State Monterey Bay (Sept. 20) before returning home for back-to-back matches in the Gallo against Cal Poly Humboldt (Sept. 26) and Chico State (Sept. 27).

The Bobcats head to the Bay Area the following weekend to square off against Cal State East Bay (Oct. 3) and San Francisco State (Oct. 4). SF State, the 2024 national runner-up, is coming off its best season in program history with 26 wins and the deep postseason run while ending the campaign ranked No. 2 in the final AVCA national poll.

Next up, UC Merced will play host to Cal State LA on October 10 and Cal State Monterey Bay the following day. Cal State LA comes to Hostetler Court as one of the teams to beat in the West Region and have made six consecutive NCAA tournaments.

After that, UC Merced will square off with 2024 CCAA Tournament Champion Stanislaus State up the road in Turlock October 16.

A home game against Cal State East Bay (Oct. 18) is followed by three consecutive road matches up and down the Golden State. The Bobcats will play at Cal State LA (Oct. 24), Cal State San Bernardino (Oct. 25), and Chico State (Oct. 30).

The Bobcats final homestand of the season brings Cal Poly Pomona (Nov. 1), Stanislaus State (Nov. 6), and San Francisco State (Nov. 8) to Merced. Like Stanislaus State, Cal Poly Pomona is also coming off their best season in program history and were the 2024 CCAA Regular Season Champions.

One more trip to Southern California will wrap-up the Bobcats first ever season in the CCAA. The final trip includes playing at Cal State San Marcos (Nov. 14) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (Nov. 15).

Tickets for the 2025 season will be available for purchase later this summer.

UC Merced, currently in its second year of a three-year transition period, will be fully eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play in the 2026 season.

2025 UC Merced Women's Volleyball Schedule
Friday, Aug. 22 – UC Santa Cruz (Scrimmage)                                                                                              
Saturday, Aug. 30 – at Dominican (Scrimmage)                                                                                                       
Saturday, Aug. 30 – vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (Scrimmage)
Friday, Sept. 5 – vs. Westmont at Sunbird Invitational
Saturday, Sept. 6 – vs. Menlo at Sunbird Invitational
Saturday, Sept. 6 – at Fresno Pacific
Monday, Sept. 8 – Jessup
Thursday, Sept. 11 – vs. Western Washington at Aloha State Showdown
Friday, Sept. 12 – vs. Hawai'i Hilo & Hawai'i Pacific at Aloha State Showdown
Friday, Sept. 13 – at Chaminade
Tuesday, Sept. 16 – at Jessup
Thursday, Sept. 18 – Cal State San Bernardino
Saturday, Sept. 20 – at Cal State Monterey Bay
Friday, Sept. 26 – Cal Poly Humboldt
Saturday, Sept. 27 – Chico State
Friday, Oct. 3 – at Cal State East Bay
Saturday, Oct. 4 – at San Francisco State
Friday, Oct. 10 – Cal State LA