WACO, Texas – The 2015 Baylor volleyball schedule, released Thursday, features a challenging non-conference schedule for the Bears, plus a 16-match Big 12 schedule in a league that finished No. 2 in RPI last season.
Baylor's season features two non-conference matches vs. NCAA Tournament participants from a year ago and five league opponents that made the national tournament in home-and-home matchups.
The Bears's quest to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 begins with a big test opening night as Baylor faces Colorado State on the road Aug. 28. The Rams made the NCAA Sweet 16 last season and finished 2014 with a No. 12 national ranking.
“I am very excited about our schedule. We will be tested right out of the gate versus a ranked team on the road followed by two strong opponents at Colorado State,” said first-year Baylor head coach Ryan McGuyre. “This type of adversity will prepare us for conference and the type of teams we will face in the NCAA Tournament.”
After playing at CSU's tournament, Baylor plays its home opener Sept. 4 vs. Sam Houston State to kickoff the Baylor Tournament that features matches against Coppin State & Cal Poly as well. The Bears will then face another NCAA Tournament team from a year ago in Dayton, as Baylor takes on the Flyers Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. Dayton advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, and the Bears will have matches against Cleveland State & Eastern Illinois as well.
The Bears open Big 12 conference play on the road Sept. 26 at Kansas State. KSU is one of five teams in the nine-team league that made the NCAA Tournament last season including Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Iowa State. Baylor's Big 12 home opener is Sept. 30 vs. Texas Tech.
“Our conference finished No. 2 in RPI last year nationally, and the league will be as formidable as ever with most teams returning the core of their starters,” said McGuyre. “But, I'm excited and confident our new style of play and young team will make a dramatic impact this season.”
Texas, last season's national runner up, comes to Waco Oct. 7 and the Bears play in Austin Oct. 31. The Bears end the regular season and the Big 12 slate where it started vs. KSU, but this time in Waco.
Follow Baylor volleyball all season long on Twitter by following the handle @baylorvball.
Baylor University Volleyball 2015 Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
Aug 22 Green & Gold Scrimmage Waco, TX TBD
Aug 28 Colorado State Fort Collins, CO 7pm
Aug 29 Northern Iowa Fort Collins, CO 1pm
Aug 30 UC Davis Fort Collins, CO 1pm
Sep 4 %vs. Sam Houston Waco, TX 7pm
Sep 5 %vs. Coppin St Waco, TX 10am
Sep 5 %vs. Cal Poly Waco, TX 7pm
Sep 11 Dayton Dayton, OH 7pm
Sep 12 Cleveland State Dayton, OH 10am
Sep 12 Eastern Illinois Dayton, OH 3pm
Sep 18 $vs. SFA Waco, TX 7pm
Sep 19 $vs. UNCG Waco, TX 10am
Sep 19 $vs. Rice Waco, TX 7pm
Sep 22 @ North Texas Denton, TX 7pm
Sep 26 @ Kansas State* Manhattan, KS 7pm
Sep 30 Texas Tech* Waco, TX 7pm
Oct 3 @ Oklahoma* Norman, OK 7pm
Oct 7 Texas* Waco, TX 7pm
Oct 9 Texas State Waco, TX 7pm
Oct 14 Kansas* Waco, TX 7pm
Oct 17 @ WVU* Morgantown, VA 3:30pm
Oct 21 @ TCU* Fort Worth, TX 7pm
Oct 25 Iowa State* Waco, TX 2pm
Oct 31 @ Kansas* Lawrence, KS 7pm
Nov 4 @ Texas Tech* Lubbock, TX 7pm
Nov 7 West Virginia* Waco, TX 7pm
Nov 11 TCU* Waco, TX 7pm
Nov 15 Oklahoma* Waco, TX 2pm
Nov 18 @ Texas* Austin, TX 7pm
Nov 25 @ Iowa State* Ames, IA 7pm
Nov 28 Kansas State* Waco, TX 7pm
% Baylor Tournament
$ Hampton Inn Waco North Baylor Invitational
*Denotes conference opponent
