WSU volleyball released its Pac-12 Conference schedule last week. It features eight home and away matches, one against each Pac-12 opponent. Let’s break down each opponent WSU will see in conference play this fall.
Fresno State: Sept. 24 (away), Oct. 17 (home)
The Bulldogs are coming off their worst season under fourth-year head coach Leisa Rosen, finishing 7-22 overall and in last place in the Mountain West Conference. They finished in the bottom three in opponent hitting percentage, assists, kills, blocks, service aces and digs in the MWC.
It does not help that the team lost its best offensive player in senior opposite Addison Haluska, who made the All-Mountain West Team while logging 428 kills and hitting .261.
However, the team had seven freshmen. Fresno State is returning nine players, including four of last year’s freshmen. Of its seven new players, three are freshmen and four are upperclassmen.
If they can build on last year’s chemistry and improve over the offseason, they could build a young, dominant team that could surprise some people this year. If not, it will likely be more of the same as last season.
They will likely be relying on outside hitter Jenna Legault offensively and transfer defensive specialist Aryam Muñoz defensively. Legault notched 311 kills last season, and Muñoz tallied 565 digs, averaging 3.45 per set in the previous two seasons at Coalinga College.
Oregon State: Sept. 26 (away), Nov. 14 (home)
The Beavers are one of two teams the Cougs play that they also faced off against last year in the West Coast Conference. The Cougs won the sole time they played 3-1.
OSU finished third in the WCC with a 19-9 overall record last season. The Beavs were efficient offensively and one of the better teams defensively in the WCC, recording the second-best hitting percentage (.245) and third-most blocks (246).
But they lost three of their top four attackers in terms of kills from last season. They also lost a solid defensive specialist and setter.
To balance out some of these losses, they added setter Alyson Cox, outside hitter Amaya Tolentino and opposite Taylor Treahy from the transfer portal. All recorded triple digits in at least one statistical category for their position last season.
The Beavs will also rely on returners Alana Marrs, Yasemin Narlioglu and Jackie Matias. All played at least 92 sets for the Beavs last year and were productive players.
Going into year four with head coach Lindsey Behonick, this team is in contention to win the Pac-12. Behonick made some strong off-season acquisitions while keeping over half of last year’s squad.
San Diego State University: Oct. 3 (home), Oct. 31 (away)
After a promising 20-10 campaign in 2024, the Aztecs went 15-16 and finished sixth in the MWC in 2025.
They lost all of their middle blockers, all of whom had over 60 total blocks and 120 kills, over the offseason. Three of their top four pin hitters, in terms of kills last season, also departed.
Head coach Brent Hilliard held on to libero Zara Stewart, outside hitter Ella Schabort and setter Kendall Mairs. They each played at least 109 sets and were contributors to the team last year.
Hilliard picked up four transfers in the portal, including two middle blockers: Taelyn Bentley and Tessa Schouten. Both had over 100 kills and hit above .250 last year at their previous stints.
Of the other transfers, one did not play last year, and the other is now one of four defensive specialists on the team. The Aztecs also have only one setter on the roster.
As it stands, Hilliard still has a lot to do before the beginning of the season. Considering the Aztecs’ recent seasons and current position, a lot would need to go right for them to be atop the Pac-12 at the end of the season.
Colorado State: Oct. 8 (away), Oct. 22 (home)
The Rams went 21-9 last season and were one win shy of winning the Mountain West Conference Championship.
The main area Colorado struggled last season was in the defensive backcourt. The team recorded the second-fewest digs per set (13.91) in the MWC. The Rams also lost their best statistical libero, Aine Doty.
The Rams did not fill that need on paper. Of the two defensive specialists on the roster, one is a true freshman, and the other managed 1.57 digs per set last season.
Head coach Emily Kohan only acquired one new player from the portal while signing five true freshmen.
Kohan coached eight freshmen last season, proving she can work with young players.
The Rams are also returning all four of their players who made the All-Mountain West Conference Team, including three hitters who all recorded at least 300 kills and a setter, Erin Debiec, who had 1179 total assists.
Colorado is in a strong position to make itself known in its first season in the Pac-12. The biggest question is, can Coach Kohan develop the new faces this year?
Texas State: away (Oct. 10), home (Oct. 24)
The Bobcats head into the Pac-12 coming off a 17-12 season that was capped off by one win in the Sun Belt Volleyball Championship.
The team was led by upperclassmen last season. All five of the team’s players who earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors graduated over the offseason. Outside of setter Anna Blaine, only one other returner, setter Dylan Gilkey, for the Bobcats played over 50 sets.
Head coach Sean Huiet has thus far brought in five new players, according to the team’s 2026 spring season roster — its most updated available roster. Two are true freshmen.
The three transfers should fill in holes in the Bobcats’ roster. Outside hitter Peyton McKee tallied 292 kills and 35 blocks at Missouri State last season. Libero Jasmine Purakal had 582 digs with Robert Morris University, and middle blocker India Bennett logged 233 kills and 138 blocks at Southeastern Louisiana.
Texas State has likely signed other transfers who will play important roles, but as it stands, there are a lot of questions to be answered.
If Huiet can get the most out of his returners and the signings, Texas State could be in contention to qualify for the Pac-12 Conference Tournament.
Boise State: away (Oct. 15), home (Nov. 17)
The Broncos went 20-11 last season and made it to the semifinals of the Mountain West Volleyball Championship, where they lost to Utah State, the eventual champion.
Two players made the All-Mountain West Team, including Eliza Sharp, who also won Freshman of the Year, and one earned an honorable mention.
The issue is that all of those players either transferred or graduated. The same is true with six other players.
And of the team’s six returners, only two played more than 50 sets.
Head coach Shawn Garus signed four true freshmen and four transfers. Three of the freshmen are outside hitters, and one is a setter.
Two of the transfers, a middle blocker and an outside hitter, played in five or fewer matches at their previous school. Libero Melia Barlow put up 113 digs last year. Transfer setter Tehya Maeva notched 1004 assists and 60 kills with Syracuse in 2025.
The Broncos find themselves in a similar situation to Texas State, with so many new or inexperienced players: if they can get the most out of the young talent, they can be successful; if not, it may be an underwhelming year.
Utah State: away (Oct. 29), home (Nov. 12)
After going 24-8, undefeated in Mountain West Conference play and winning a match in the NCAA Tournament, many would think the Aggies would be set to run it back and sweep through the new Pac-12. That is not the case.
Utah State lost most of its biggest contributors, including the five players who earned All-Mountain West Conference recognition. Head coach Rob Nielson and its entire coaching staff also departed.
Of the five returning players from last season, only one played in more than 20 sets.
They have since acquired a whole new coaching staff, with Keith Smith at the helm, and eight newcomers. Two are true freshmen, and six are transfers.
Three of the transfers, Sami Blackett, Olivia Ruy and Sophie Scott, stand out. Last season, the pin hitters Blackett and Ruy notched at least 110 kills. Scott put up 199 kills and 178 blocks as a middle blocker over the past three seasons at Cal.
Despite being regular-season or conference champions in the Mountain West three of the past five seasons, it could be a rocky first year in the Pac-12 for Utah State. The team could be a dark-horse contender if things play out favorably.
Gonzaga: away (Nov. 7), home (Nov. 19)
Gonzaga was the other school that Washington State played last year in the WCC. The Cougars won both matches.
The Zags still went 14-15 overall, their most wins in a season since 2017.
Gonzaga lost its top four attackers in terms of kills over the offseason, including its only All-WCC First Team member, Sjakkie Donkers. But its leaders in assists, blocks and digs are all set to return.
Head Coach JT Wenger signed eight new players while keeping ten. Seven of the newcomers are true freshmen or have not played in the United States. Transfer middle blocker and opposite Claire Wagstaff tallied 258 kills and 100 total blocks the past two years at Wyoming.
The main concern is the team’s defense. Gonzaga recorded the fewest blocks per set and ranked No. 7 in digs per set in the WCC last season.
The hope is that some of the team’s new middles and outsides can contribute more in the blocking game and in the back with digs.
The Zags are not the favorites to win the Pac-12, but if their young talent pans out and they are stronger defensively, they could make some noise in their first year in the conference.
The Pac-12 Championship will be held the week of Nov. 23 and feature the top four teams from the final standings. The team with the highest conference winning percentage through the first half of the season will host the single-elimination tournament.
