BERKELEY – The Cal beach volleyball team will play the toughest schedule in the program's five-year history in 2018, with 12 matches against opponents who finished last season nationally ranked and 11 challenging tilts against Pac-12 opponents.

The Bears, who went 13-12 last season and finished the year ranked No. 20 in the nation, open the season with a tri-meet at Pacific on Feb. 24, where they will play UOP and Saint Mary's. Cal's home opener is March 1 against Santa Clara at the Clark Kerr Sand Courts.

Cal will play in the ultra-competitive Pac-12 South Tournament on March 24-25 in Santa Monica, where the Bears will take on USC, Washington, UCLA and Arizona. Three of those four opponents finished last year ranked in the top-10 nationally, while USC and UCLA met in the NCAA championship match, with the Trojans prevailing 3-2.

The Arizona Tournament at the beginning of April will once again feature three ranked teams from a year ago, including East Coast participant Stetson, who finished last year at No. 17. The entire tournament will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

The Bears' home schedule also includes tri-meets with Sac State and Saint Mary's on March 16 and with San Jose State and Pacific on March 17. Cal hosts USF on March 30 and closes out the home schedule on April 21 against rival Stanford.

The 2018 Pac-12 Championships are April 26-28 at Stanford.

The Bears return eight of 10 players from their regular playing rotation last season and have added an impressive recruiting class, headlined by two-time FIVB World Championship bronze medalist Mima Mirkovic and AVCA High School Beach All-American Alexia Inman.

For the complete 2018 Cal beach volleyball schedule, click here.