Nearing ever closer to the 2023 volleyball season, WSU unveiled its schedule for the upcoming year. With a tough schedule throughout, the Cougs look to build off their seven-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and second-round exit from last season. 

This upcoming season has the potential to be a special one, with a number of strong opponents. The schedule includes six teams that appeared in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, including the national champion and champion runner-up. 

The team features a returning class of fifth-year players Magda Jehlarova, Pia Timmer, Weronika Wojdyla, Julia Norville and Karly Basham, alongside the returning Katy Ryan, Logann Golden, Argentina Ung, Shea Rubright and Jasmine Martin. New additions to the team include transfers Iman Isanovic from Arizona State, Lana Radakovic from UC Davis and Peyton Claus from Idaho, and incoming freshmen Lucie Blažková from the Czech Republic and Emma Barbero from Italy. 

The Cougs begin the season on the road, heading to Louisville, Kentucky, where they take on NCAA Tournament runner-up Louisville on their home court, sandwiched between matches against 2022 NCAA Tournament first-round exit Wright State and Troy. 

After their road trip, they host back-to-back tournaments within a one-week span. The first, spanning Sept. 1–3, sees Northwestern State, Drake and Tulsa come through Pullman. Then, between Sept.  6–8, UC Irvine, 2022 NCAA Tournament first-round exit Towson, and 2022 NCAA Tournament second-round exit BYU play on the Cougs’ new court. 

The Friday night matchup against BYU is one of the best non-conference opponents that the Cougs have hosted in program history. Given its status and timeslot, the newly-renovated Bohler Gym should be packed with fans. 

Following their hosted tournaments, they close out their non-conference schedule against Baylor in Waco, Texas, and Texas in Austin, Texas. Baylor lost to eventual runner-up Louisville in the third round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, while Texas was the eventual National Champion.

Their matchups against the six non-Conference teams that made the Tournament will set the tone for the rest of their season, but the Cougs are not the only good team in the Pac-12. 

To begin their Conference season, the Cougs will host Apple Cup rival Washington, who they beat in a huge 3-0 sweep to end their 2022 Conference schedule at home last season. In front of a sell-out crowd of 3,005 last season, a similar crowd should pack the stadium in this year’s rendition of a yearly rivalry. 

Leading the Conference last season were Stanford and Oregon, who finished No. 6 and No. 7 in the end-of-the-season AVCA Coaches’ Poll. WSU will host Stanford Oct. 8 and Oregon Oct. 27.  

Last season, WSU upset the then-No. 12 ranked Ducks at home 3-2 in one of the most impressive wins by the team last season. It was their first top-25 win of the year and gave them momentum into the rest of their Conference schedule. 

Ending their regular season is a home-bout against Arizona State on Nov. 22. Then they head to Seattle to take on the Huskies on Nov. 24.