Volleyball announces full 2023 fall schedule

Schedule (PDF) | Schedule

MILWAUKEE – Marquette University head women's volleyball coach Ryan Theis has announced the team's 2023 schedule, including an 18-game BIG EAST Conference slate and home games against three regional finalists from last year's NCAA tournament.

"We are looking to building off the momentum generated last fall with a challenging schedule in 2023," Theis said. "Marquette has continued to make a commitment to its women's volleyball program, and we've been fortunate to schedule a very competitive non-conference slate."

The Golden Eagles face six teams during non-conference action that ended last year ranked in the top 30 of the NCAA ratings percentage index rankings and a total of eight teams that qualified for NCAA tournament play.

Last season, the Golden Eagles captured consecutive BIG EAST Conference regular season titles and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the second time. Marquette returns all six starters from a squad that ended 2022 ranked 13th in the final AVCA Coaches Poll.

"Last season was a very successful one, but this team wants more," Theis said. "For us to take that next step as a program we needed to get aggressive with our out-of-conference schedule. I believe we have a preseason schedule that stacks up against any in the country."

Schedule Highlights:

2023 BIG EAST Women's Volleyball Championship at the Al McGuire Center on Nov. 22-26
Match against in-state rival Wisconsin at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 13
Nine games against a total of eight teams that appeared in the 2022 NCAA tournament
Six non-conference games against top-30 teams in the 2022 RPI rankings
Home opener on Sept. 8 against Pitt, a team that advanced to the national semifinals last season and ended the year third in NCAA RPI
Non-conference finale on Sept. 17 against Oregon, a 2022 NCAA regional finalist
Sept. 1-2 matches at Kansas against the Jayhawks and Purdue
Annual Creighton matches on Friday, Oct. 6 at home and Sunday, Nov. 5 in Omaha

The home schedule is highlighted by a visit from 2022 national semifinalist, Pitt, on Friday, Sept. 8 for MU's home opener. The Golden Eagles also close non-conference action with a Sunday, Sept. 17 matchup against Oregon, a team that advanced to the Elite Eight last season.

Marquette previously announced its matchup with Wisconsin at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 13. A large crowd is expected as the two programs look to set a state NCAA volleyball attendance record at the home of Marquette men's basketball and the 2021 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks.

The Golden Eagles open the season in a tournament at Dayton on Aug. 25-27 against Western Kentucky, Drake and the host-Dayton Flyers. WKU reached the second round of the NCAA tournament last fall and ended the year ranked No. 23 in the AVCA Coaches Poll.

The following weekend, MU makes the trek to Lawrence, Kansas for matches against Purdue on Friday, Sept. 1 and the host Jayhawks on Saturday, Sept. 2. Both squads advanced to the NCAA Second Round last year.

Marquette welcomes Pitt for its home opener on Sept. 8 and will host Tennessee on Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Al McGuire Center.

In addition to the mid-week contest with the Badgers, the Golden Eagles will play four matches in five days, continuing with a Thursday, Sept. 14 game at Milwaukee and home matches against Air Force and Oregon on Sept. 16 and Sept. 17, respectively.

BIG EAST play opens Friday, Sept. 22 at home against Villanova and is capped on Saturday, Nov. 18 with the regular season finale against Seton Hall. The Golden Eagles will play each league opponent twice except for Butler and Xavier, which they will face on the road on Oct. 20-21.

The two annual showdowns with league rival Creighton are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6 in Milwaukee and Sunday, Nov. 5 in Omaha. Marquette swept Creighton last season in Milwaukee, but lost both matches in Omaha, including the BIG EAST tournament final in five sets.

In addition to MU's six returning starters, the Golden Eagles welcome freshman defensive specialist Molly Berezowitz from nearby Burlington and Illinois State graduate transfer Sarah Kushner. The Golden Eagles will have two weeks of practice on campus in late May before departing for a trip to Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic on June 5-16 that will feature matches against European clubs.

Keep up with the Marquette University women's volleyball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).

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