June 1, 2016
FULL SCHEDULE
RENO, Nev. - The Nevada Wolf Pack volleyball squad will look to build on a much improved 2015 season with a full slate of matches on the 2016 schedule.
The Wolf Pack volleyball team will play in a total of 30 contests this season, starting on Aug. 26 with the North Texas Tournament in Denton, Tex., hosted by the North Texas Mean Green. The schedule also includes a tournament Sept. 9-10 hosted by the Wolf Pack. This is the second straight year Nevada has hosted a preseason tournament. Also on the slate is a Governor's Series game against rival UNLV. Nevada will play in a total of four preseason tournaments before beginning conference play.
"We have a great schedule this year that gives us a chance to see where we're at out right out of the gate," said head coach Lee Nelson, in his second year now with Nevada. "We're also hosting a great tournament with solid teams."
Nevada will begin play when they head to Texas for a preseason tournament. The Pack is slated to play North Texas and Texas A&M on Aug. 26 and Texas State on Aug. 27. The Saint Mary's Tournament will provide another good tune up opportunity on the road Sept. 2-3 with the Pack schedule to play three teams. Schools coming to the Nevada Wolf Pack Tournament Sept. 9-10 include UC Davis, Southern Utah and Gonzaga with the Pack to play all three in a round robin format. The final preseason tournament on the schedule will be held at Sacramento State Sept. 16-17.
The team is slated to open conference play at home against Utah State on Sept. 22. Nevada finished five games ahead of the Aggies in the conference rankings last season. Highlighting the conference schedule will be a single match against UNLV, held in Las Vegas on Nov. 19. Unlike years past, the Pack will play the Rebels just once this season with three Governor's Series points on the line. Nevada beat UNLV for the first time in 10 years with a 3-2 victory over the Rebels last season.
"Unfortunately, we only get to play UNLV once this year and it's at their place," Nelson said. "With our first win over the Rebels in a decade I'm sure they'll be ready for us, so we'll need to make sure we have our minds right when we get to Vegas."
Nevada is also set to play Colorado State twice this season. The Rams went undefeated last year in conference play to claim the Mountain West title. Nevada's final game of the regular season will be against San Diego State in the Virginia Street Gym on Nov. 21, which will also serve as senior night.
The Pack volleyball team is coming off their best season since 2010 with seven conference wins, the most since joining the Mountain West. Nevada's home matches and away conference matches will be streamed on the Mountain West Network via NevadaWolfPack.TV. Ticket information can be found at nevadawolfpack.com or by calling (775) 348-PACK.
