Women's Volleyball Pac-12 Conference

Pac-12 women's volleyball kicks off the 2023 season this week

Schedule | Pac-12 Record Book

Pac-12 women's volleyball returns to action this week with 35 matches stretching Friday, August 25 through Tuesday, August 29. All 12 teams will be in action with just two teams - Colorado and Arizona - opening the 2023 campaign hosting tournaments at home.

THIS WEEK

  • No. 3 Stanford 's quest for a repeat Pac-12 title (a fifth in the last seven years) and a third national championship in the last six years begins on the road with a pair of matches in the state of Colorado. The Cardinal open the season at Northern Colorado on Friday, Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and finish out the weekend at Colorado State on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. PT on the Mountain West Network. Stanford won't have any time to rest though, facing its first big test as they welcome No. 11 Florida to Maples Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. PT live on the Pac-12 Network. The Cardinal return 99% of their production from a year ago and are legitimate national title contenders in 2023.
  • No. 9 Oregon is coming off a school-record 17 conference wins in 2022 and a run to the Elite 8 so it is no surprise the Ducks enter the season in the top 10. 2022 AVCA National Freshman of the Year Mimi Colyer and crew will head to Hawaii on opening weekend and will be challenged right out of the gate as the Ducks face No. 13 San Diego, a Final Four participant a year ago, on Friday at 7:45 p.m. PT in Honolulu. Oregon will then take on Northwestern on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. PT before wrapping up the weekend against host Hawaii on Sunday at 8 p.m. PT.
  • No. 21 Washington State will be eyeing an eighth straight NCAA tournament appearance in 2023 and the journey starts in Louisville, Kentucky this weekend. The Cougars open the season Friday against Wright State at 1 p.m. PT before a marquee matchup with host and No. 4-ranked Louisville on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT on ACC Network Extra. WSU closes out its time in Kentucky with a match against Troy on Sunday at 8 a.m. PT.
  • No. 22 USC will also face some stiff competition to start 2023 as the Trojans travel to Houston, Texas for three matches, opening with host and No. 19-ranked Houston on Friday on ESPN+, followed by No. 23 Rice on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and concluding the weekend against Southern Mississippi on Sunday at 9 a.m. PT.
  • Washington 's Leslie Gabriel will make her head coaching debut this weekend in Louisiana with a pair of Friday matches against UTEP at 8 a.m. PT and tournament host Southeastern Louisiana at 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+. The Huskies close out the weekend on Saturday at 9 a.m. PT against Grambling State.
  • Utah won't have to travel far for its first two matches of the season, going just down the road to Orem, Utah for a Friday match at 5 p.m. PT against Utah Valley on ESPN+ and a Saturday contest against North Carolina State at 11 a.m. PT.
  • Arizona will have the benefit of playing in the comforts of its home arena with the Wildcats hosting the Cactus Classic at the McKale Center. New head coach and former Wildcat Charita Stubbs will step into the lead role in Tucson with the Wildcats set for two Friday matches - UC Davis at 10 a.m. PT and North Carolina at 7 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Insider. Arizona wraps up the weekend against Pacific on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. PT.
  • Arizona State and first-year head coach J.J. Van Niel make the trek to the Sunshine State for the FCGU Invitational, taking on host Florida Gulf Coast Friday at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN+, followed by a Saturday 12 p.m. PT match against St. John's and a Sunday meeting with Ole Miss at 8 a.m. PT.
  • California will also travel across the country to West Point, New York for Army's season-opening tournament, where they will face Army on Friday at 4:30 p.m. PT, followed by Fairfield and Central Connecticut State at 9 a.m. PT and 4 p.m. PT, respectively, on Saturday.
  • Colorado is the second of two Pac-12 squads to open at home, hosting UNLV (Friday 6 p.m. PT), Campbell (Saturday 5 p.m. PT) and North Texas (Sunday 11 a.m. PT) at CU Events Center over the weekend.
  • Oregon State , also under a first-time head coach in Lindsey Behonick, has three matches schedule in Bozeman, Montana on opening weekend: Friday against host Montana State at 11:30 a.m. PT on ESPN+ and Kennesaw State at 4 p.m. PT and Saturday against North Dakota at 10 a.m. PT.
  • UCLA , one of six Pac-12 squad with new coaches in 2023, will have former San Diego associate head coach Alfee Reft at the helm as the Bruins open the 2023 campaign with a pair of matches at LSU on Friday and Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT and 3 p.m. PT on SEC Network+. Bruins finish out their first road trip with a Monday match at Northwestern State at 10:30 a.m. PT on ESPN+.

FOUR IN AVCA PRESEASON TOP 25

  • Four Pac-12 teams appeared in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Top 25 revealed on Aug. 15 in No. 3 Stanford, No. 9 Oregon, No. 21 Washington State and No. 22 USC.
  • No. 3 Stanford received the second-most first-place votes with 13 behind defending national champion and No. 1 ranked Texas, who collected 44 first-place votes.
  • This is Stanford's fifth top-five ranking in the preseason poll in the last seven years after starting both the 2018 and 2019 seasons No. 1, the 2017 season No. 2, the 2021 spring season No. 3 and this year in the No. 3 spot.
  • Oregon's No. 9 preseason ranking is its highest since starting the 2013 season ranked No. 8. Overall the Ducks have appeared in the first top 25 of the season nine of the last 12 seasons.
  • Washington State appears in the preseason poll for the third time in the last five years after being ranked No. 22 in 2019 and No. 18 in 2021.
  • Washington's streak of 64 consecutive poll appearances (not including fall 2020), a stretch dating back to Nov. 5, 2018, came to an end with the Huskies not appearing in the 2023 preseason top 25. UW did receive the third-most votes (63) just outside the top 25.
  • Utah also received votes with 18.

STANFORD THE FAVORITE TO REPEAT

  • After losing just one conference match last season en route to the Pac-12 title, Stanford was picked to repeat as conference champions in 2023 in the Preseason Coaches Poll .
  • It's the first time since 2019 and the 18th time overall the Cardinal have been picked to finish in the top spot.
  • Washington State's second-place finish in the poll is the Cougars' highest preseason ranking since they were chosen to finish second in the 1996 poll.
  • Oregon was picked to finish third for the fifth time in the last seven years.
  • The preseason favorite has gone on to win the league title 21 times in the 37 years of Pac-12 womens volleyball, including Stanford when they went on to win back-to-back national titles in 2018 and 2019.

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

  • The Pac-12 announced the 2023 Women's Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team ahead of the upcoming season. 14 of the 15 members of the team were All-Pac-12 or All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention selections in 2022.
  • Stanford led the way with six selections - three of which were individual award winners a year ago, reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year Kendall Kipp , Setter of the Year Kami Miner and Libero of the Year Elena Oglivie . Caitie Baird , Elia Rubin and Sami Francis rounded on the Cardinal on the list.
  • Washington State saw three voted onto the team in Magda Jehlarova , Pia Timmer and Arizona State transfer Iman Isanovic .
  • Oregon ( Mimi Colyer , Hannah Pukis ) and USC ( Skylar Fields, Mia Tuaniga ) collected two selections apiece while Arizona State ( Marta Levinska ) and UCLA ( Anna Dodson ) had one each.

STAR POWER RETURNING

  • Every 2022 Pac-12 individual award winner is back in 2023 - Player of the year Kendall Kipp (Stanford) ; Freshman of the Year Mimi Colyer (Oregon) ; Setter of the Year Kami Miner (Stanford) ; and Libero of the Year Elena Oglivie (Stanford) .
  • 12 of 18 All-Pac-12 selections return highlighted by four-time All-Pac-12 honoree Magda Jehlrov (Washington State).
  • Four of five 2022 AVCA First Team All-Americans return in 2023 ( Skylar Fields , USC; Magda Jehlarova , WSU; Kendall Kipp , STAN; Kami Miner (STAN); 2022 AVCA Second Team All-American Hannah Pukis (ORE) and third-team selection and AVCA National Freshman of the Year Mimi Colyer is also back for the Ducks. 2022 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selections Elena Oglivie (STAN) and Mia Tuaniga (USC) return as well.

NEW COACHING FACES

Half the league has a new face on the sideline as the Pac-12 will have six new head coaches in 2023 - two of which are alums of the programs they are taking over.

  • Arizona: Charita Stubbs , who played at Arizona from 1992-94, takes over after the retirement of longtime head coach Dave Rubio. Stubbs was the first player in Arizona history to record 300 kills, 300 digs and 100 blocks in one season and helped the program to back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances.
  • Arizona State: JJ Van Niel comes to Tempe after servicing as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Utah and USC for the past eight years.
  • California: Crissy Jones Schoonderwoerd takes over as the interim head coach after former head man Sam Crosson resigned in July. Jones Schoonderwoerd is no stranger to the Pac-12 as she was an AVCA All-American and a three-time All-Pac-12 performer at Washington (2014-17), helping the Huskies to a pair of Elite Eight appearances.
  • Oregon State: Lindsey Behonick is new to the Pac-12 but brings a wealth of experience after serving as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh for the last 10 years. Pitt is fresh off back-to-back Final Four appearances and Behonick helped the program win four ACC Championships and compile a 258-62 record during her time there.
  • UCLA: After helping guide San Diego to a Final Four appearance last season as an assistant coach, Alfee Reft becomes just the fourth Bruin head coach in UCLA history. He previously served as an assistant coach at Illinois and Minnesota and currently serves as a season assistant coach for the U.S. Womens National Team.
  • Washington: Leslie Gabriel is the other alum to take over the program where she played. From 1995-1998 Gabriel was one of the best blockers in Pac-12 history and is third all-time in the Huskies record book with 613. Gabriel will get the chance to lead the Huskies after being on UWs staff through multiple head coaches since 2001, helping the Huskies to 21 straight NCAA tournament appearances and the 2005 National Championship.

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MARQUEE NON-CONFERENCE MATCHUPS

Pac-12 programs will play a total of 18 games against non-conference opponents ranked in the AVCA Preseason Poll:

  • Stanford: vs. No. 11 Florida (August 29); at No. 1 Texas (Sept. 3); vs. No. 14 Ohio State (Sept. 8); vs. No. 7 Minnesota (Sept. 9); vs. No. 5 Nebraska (Sept. 12); at No. 4 Louisville (Sept. 17)
  • Oregon: vs. No. 13 San Diego (Aug. 25 in Hawaii); vs. No. 7 Minnesota (Sept. 8); vs. No. 14 Ohio State (Sept. 9); at No. 5 Pittsburgh (Sept. 14)
  • Washington State : at No. 4 Louisville (Aug. 26); at No. 15 Baylor (Sept. 13); at No. 1 Texas (Sept. 15)
  • USC: at No. 19 Houston (Aug. 25); at No. 23 Rice (Aug. 26); at No. 15 Purdue (Sept. 15)
  • Colorado : vs. No. 19 Illinois (Sept. 3)
  • Arizona: at No. 2 Wisconsin (Sept. 7)

HOW TO WATCH

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

  • Pac-12 institutions have won 17 of the 42 all-time NCAA championships in womens volleyball, four more than the next closest conference (Big Ten), and four of the past 12.
  • The Conference has had at least five teams earn NCAA Tournament bids in 24 consecutive seasons and eight postseason berths in five of the past 10 tournaments.
  • Four different Pac-12 teams have won at least one NCAA title (UCLA, USC, Stanford, Washington), double any other conference. The Big Ten (Nebraska, Penn State) and Big West (Hawaii, Long Beach State) are the only other leagues with multiple NCAA champions.
  • Seven different Pac-12 programs have made NCAA semifinal appearances since 2001 and 14 of the past 22 NCAA championship matches have included at least one Pac-12 program.
  • At least one Pac-12 team has played in 27 of the 42 NCAA title matches all-time, the most of any league. At least one Big Ten team has been in 22 NCAA finals all-time and a Big West team has played in the title match nine times.
  • Five NCAA title matches have been between two Pac-12 teams (2002, 1994, 1992, 1984, 1981). The only other conference to have an all-conference NCAA title match is the Big Ten, which has done so three times (2021, 2013, 2000).
  • A Pac-12 team has been one of the final four teams in all but six years of the NCAA tournament.
  • Since 2010, the Pac-12 has the second-most NCAA Tournament berths of any league with 94.
  • The Pac-12 has had 10 or more first, second and third-team All-America selections in 13 of the last 18 seasons. Thirteen former Pac-12 players have earned first, second or third-team All-America honors four times, while 30 players have earned All-America honors three times, with Magda Jehlarova (Washington State) garnering her third nod last season.
  • Since 1990, Pac-12 players garnered AVCA Player of the Year honors 15 times, including the seven of the last 12  - Californias Carli Lloyd (2010), USCs Alex Jupiter (2011), Oregons Alaina Bergsma (2012), Washingtons Krista Vansant (2013), USCs Samantha Bricio (2015) and Stanfords Kathryn Plummer (2017 and 2018). Overall, the Pac-12 has produced 16 student-athletes that have won AVCA Player of the Year, the most of any league. Thirteen Big Ten student-athletes have earned the honor, along with 10 from the Big West and one each from the Big 12 and WCC.
  • The Honda Sports Award for volleyball has been bestowed upon a Pac-12 athlete 21 times in its 47 years of existence, including eight of the past 12. The Big Ten has had 11 student-athletes earn the honor, the Big West seven, the SEC two and the Big 12, WCC, A-10 and MWC each one.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE ( Full Schedule )

Friday, August 25 TV/Stream Time (PT)
UTEP vs. Washington (Hammond, LA) 8:00 a.m. PT
UC Davis at Arizona ARIZ Live Stream 10:00 a.m. PT
Oregon State at Montana State ESPN+ 11:30 a.m. PT
Wright State vs. #21 Washington State (Louisville, KY) 1:00 p.m. PT
Arizona State at Florida Gulf Coast ESPN+ 4:00 p.m. PT
Kennesaw State vs. Oregon State (Bozeman, MT) 4:00 p.m. PT
California at Army ESPN+ 4:30 p.m. PT
UCLA at LSU SEC Network+ 4:30 p.m. PT
Washington at Southeastern Louisiana ESPN+ 4:30 p.m. PT
#3 Stanford at Northern Colorado ESPN+ 5:00 p.m. PT
Utah at Utah Valley ESPN+ 5:00 p.m. PT
UNLV at Colorado COLO Live Stream 6:00 p.m. PT
#22 USC at #19 Houston ESPN+ 6:00 p.m. PT
North Carolina at Arizona Pac-12 Insider 7:00 p.m. PT
#13 San Diego vs. #9 Oregon (Honolulu, HI) 7:45 p.m. PT
Saturday, August 26
California vs. Fairfield (West Point, NY) 9:00 a.m. PT
Grambling State vs. Washington (Hammond, LA) 9:00 a.m. PT
North Dakota vs. Oregon State (Bozeman, MT) 10:00 a.m. PT
NC State vs. Utah (Orem, UT) 11:00 a.m. PT
St. Johns vs. Arizona State (Fort Meyers, FL) 12:00 p.m. PT
UCLA at LSU SEC Network+ 3:00 p.m. PT
Pacific at Arizona ARIZ Live Stream 3:30 p.m. PT
Central Connecticut State vs. California (West Point, NY) 4:00 p.m. PT
#22 USC vs. #23 Rice (Houston, TX) ESPN+ 4:00 p.m. PT
#21 Washington State at #4 Louisville ACC Network+ 4:00 p.m. PT
Campbell at Colorado COLO Live Stream 5:00 p.m. PT
#3 Stanford at Colorado State MW Network 6:00 p.m. PT
Northwestern vs. #9 Oregon 7:45 p.m. PT
Sunday, August 27
Ole Miss vs. Arizona State (Fort Meyers, FL) 8:00 a.m. PT
Troy vs. Washington State (Louisville, KY) 8:00 a.m. PT
Southern Miss vs. #22 USC (Houston, TX) 9:00 a.m. PT
North Texas at Colorado COLO Live Stream 11 a.m. PT
#9 Oregon at Hawaii ESPN+ 8:00 p.m. PT
Monday, August 28
UCLA at Northwestern State ESPN+ 10:30 a.m. PT
Tuesday, August 29
#11 Florida at #3 Stanford Pac-12 Network 6:00 p.m. PT