2018 Schedule (Online)
2018 Schedule (Printable PDF)

FRESNO, Calif. – The 2018 Fresno State volleyball schedule has been released for the program's first season under new head coach Jonathan Winder.
 
The 31-game schedule is highlighted by 13 home dates, including nine home MW contests, an annual meeting with local rival Fresno Pacific, and a three-day, five-team home tournament in the inaugural Fresno State Invitational. In 2018 the 'Dogs will play three matches vs. 2017 NCAA Tournament teams and have five contests against teams that played in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) last year. 
 
"We have a team that is striving to raise the standard of volleyball at Fresno State," Winder said. "This non-conference schedule gives our team plenty of opportunities to grow, compete, and perform at a very high level. Our non-conference is challenging with both the travel demands and the level of teams we will be playing."
 
After not having a home tournament last season the 'Dogs will welcome Saint Mary's, San Francisco, American, and Cal Baptist as eight total matches will be played in Save Mart Center Aug. 30-Sept. 1. American earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament last season as champion of the Patriot League and finished with a 26-8 overall record. The 'Dogs will face Saint Mary's and San Francisco for the second consecutive season and Cal Baptist, which is transitioning to NCAA Div. I, will also take part in the tournament but will not have a match against Fresno State.
 
"We will be competing against regular NCAA tournament teams in American and Saint Mary's at home along with a young and talented San Francisco team," Winder said. "We are thrilled to have a high level home tournament along with the annual Fresno Pacific match during the same week, providing lots of opportunities for the Red Wave to come support this team." 
 
Fresno State's home opener will be Aug. 28 as the Bulldogs will once again welcome Fresno Pacific to the Save Mart Center. Fans will get an earlier look at the 2018 squad, however, as the team will host its annual alumnae match in an exhibition on Aug. 18.
 
The 'Dogs open the regular season Aug. 24-25 at the EIU Panther Invitational presented by Holiday Inn Express in Charleston, Ill. Fresno State will face tournament host Eastern Illinois, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, as well as Valparaiso and Saint Francis (PA).
 
Following the Fresno State Invitational the 'Dogs will play in two more non-conference tournaments, facing Cal, Gonzaga, and Portland State in a tournament in Portland Sept. 7-8. Portland State was 21-9 overall last season with a 9-3 record in non-conference matches while the contest against Cal will give the Bulldogs a game against a Pac-12 foe for the second consecutive season.
 
The Bulldogs will wrap up non-conference play the following weekend at the Mizuno Invitational, taking on Long Beach State, UC Irvine, and Southern Utah Sept. 14-15 in Long Beach. UC Irvine reached the third round of the NIVC last year.  
 
"We need to embrace adversity to continue to grow and traveling to Eastern Illinois will instantly create an unfamiliar environment that will challenge us to be at our best in all conditions," Winder said. "The tournaments at Long Beach and Portland will again provide a high level of competition that will prepare us for the level of the Mountain West."
 
Mountain West play begins for the Bulldogs on Sept. 21 at San Diego State. The MW home opener will be the following week as Fresno State will host Wyoming on Sept. 27 and defending MW-champion Colorado State on Sept. 29. The 'Dogs will play four of their first seven MW matches at home before a four-match road swing Oct. 18-27.
 
Fresno State has five of its last six matches at home, including three straight home contests to end the regular season. The Bulldogs face eight MW foes both home and away while playing San Diego State (road) and Air Force (home) only once to start and end the MW season, respectively.
 
"I believe the Mountain West conference will have quite a bit of depth this year, as all the teams are continuing to improve throughout the league," Winder said. "There will be lots of new players throughout the conference, yet the talent seems to be spread out, making every night a battle. We're excited about the team we are building and the quality of opponents we are playing and are ready to get it started."

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