2024 CSUB Volleyball Schedule Announced

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The start of a new decade is ahead for Cal State Bakersfield's volleyball team as 11th-year Head Coach Giovana Melo has announced the squad's 2024 schedule. The Roadrunners will test themselves with a challenging non-conference slate, sharpening their system and skills before a grueling trek through the ultra-competitive Big West schedule.

Melo, who has led CSUB Volleyball to two NCAA Tournaments, described her feelings about the year ahead: "I am very excited about this season with a completely new group. I think we were able to create a fun and competitive schedule this year and I hope our fans and our community feel the same."

Melo's `Runners will open the season at the Utah Valley Invitational, Aug. 30-31, taking on familiar foes from their days in the Western Athletic Conference. The lineup includes Eastern Washington, tournament host Utah Valley, and a Kansas City squad that was co-Champions of the Summit League in 2023.

Bakersfield will return to the comforts of the Icardo Center, Sept. 5-7, to host the Roadrunner Classic, presented by Hourglass Hotel. CSUB's annual home tournament will welcome Oregon State, Seattle U, and Nevada to Kern County.

CSUB will close out the final two weekends of non-conference play at tournaments hosted by Boise State (Sept. 13-14) and Fresno State (Sept. 20-22). Some of the toughest tests the `Runners will face in this spurt including reigning Mountain West Champion Sacramento State and a tough Pacific squad that went 18-11 a year ago.

"We put together a non-conference schedule that will challenge us and get us prepared for The Big West," Melo continued. "We are playing competitive teams from a lot of different conferences, teams who have been successful in their respective conferences and will expose us. I am excited for this new group to get better together as we face these battles."

The end of September will signal the start of Big West play, which CSUB will kick off with home matches against the 2023 Big West Champion UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 27) and Cal Poly (Sept. 28).

The 18-match league schedule will see the `Runners play eight of their first 12 matches in the Icardo Center. While the favorable start lends itself to the advantage of Melo's team, CSUB will close out the year with five of their final six matches on the road.

A strong finish to the regular season will be crucial for the `Runners to qualify for the 2024 Big West Championship, which will be hosted by UC Irvine, Nov. 26-30. With a 5-13 Big West record in 2023, Bakersfield finished one spot out of making the Top 6 and last year's tournament, which was also the inaugural tournament, so the `Runners will be itching to qualify for postseason play in 2024.

"The record didn't show but we were very close last year and that's what excites me so much about this year," Melo said. "Last year we got too caught up with the wins and losses and not on getting better as a team. This year, we will be focusing on being a better team that can face challenges and problem solve, focusing on one game at a time. I believe we made significant progress this spring and we will be even better this fall."

For the full 2024 CSUB women's volleyball schedule, click here. Tickets for women's volleyball home games will go on sale later this summer over at GoRunners.com/Tickets.

~GoRunners.com~

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2024 CSUB Volleyball Schedule Announced