April 24, 2012
STANFORD, Calif. - Head coach John Dunning has announced the schedule for the 2012 Stanford women's volleyball season. Competing in one of the nation's toughest conferences, the Cardinal will look to capture a Pac-12 title and make a run to its 19th Final Four and battle for its seventh NCAA Championship.
Stanford opens the season on Friday, Aug. 24 at the Hawai'i Invitational in Honolulu, Hawai'i against Saint Mary's. The Cardinal will also face 2011 NCAA Tournament participants Albany, on Aug. 25, and host Hawai'i on Aug. 26. All games will be played at 8 p.m. PT at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The team will then participate in the third annual Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic, Aug. 31 - Sep. 1, hosted this year by Penn State University. The Cardinal will take on the Nittany Lions on Friday, Aug. 31. Stanford will then face the Florida Gators on Saturday, Sep. 1. The Texas Longhorns will also make the trip to University Park, Pa. Stanford is the two-time defending Big Four Classic champion.
The Cardinal will open the home portion of its schedule as it hosts the Stanford Invitational, Sep. 6-8. Stanford will take on Loyola, Santa Clara and Pacific in the six-game tournament at Maples Pavilion.
Stanford will play its final non-conference games against Bay Area foes San Francisco and Saint Mary's. The Cardinal will host the Dons on Friday, Sep. 14, and travel to Moraga, Calif., on Sep. 15 to square off with the Gaels.
Stanford opens the Pac-12 Conference season at home on Wednesday, Sep. 19 against Bay Area rival California. The Cardinal will then travel to Salt Lake City, Utah for its only match of the year against Utah on Sep. 22. Stanford will remain on the road the following weekend, taking on Arizona and Arizona State on Sep. 28 and Sep. 29, respectively.
The Cardinal will play its next four Pac-12 matches at home, beginning with the Oregon schools on Oct. 5. Stanford will face the defending national champion UCLA Bruins on Oct. 12 and 2011 Final Four participant USC on Oct. 13.
After visiting the Washington schools on Oct. 19-20, Stanford will close out the month of October against Arizona State on Oct. 26 and Arizona on Oct. 28.
Stanford will then head to Oregon, Nov. 2-3 before hosting Washington State and Washington for two midweek games on Wednesday, Nov. 7 and Thursday, Nov. 8, respectively. After a trip to Los Angeles to face the Trojans and Bruins for a second time, Stanford closes out the Pac-12 season with its lone game against Colorado at home on Nov. 21 and a game at Cal on Nov. 24.
The NCAA Tournament begins with opening rounds, Nov. 30 - Dec. 1. NCAA Regional action will take place the following week, Dec. 7-8, with California, Nebraska, Purdue and Texas serving as the host sites. The Final Four is set for Dec. 13-15 in Louisville, Ky.
Stanford returns 10 letterwinners that led the squad to its 31st consecutive NCAA appearance in 2011.
All dates and times are subject to change.