12/19/2022 4:07:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Beach Volleyball has announced the complete 2023 spring schedule for their upcoming season. The season begins on February 23 and runs through April 29 with the West Coast Conference Championship. The Gaels will be all over the Bay Area and have another trip to Hawaii scheduled for the spring semester, which should lead to another very exciting season of SMC Beach Volleyball. Let's take a look at some of the highlights of the upcoming slate of games.
SEASON OF ALOHA
For the second-consecutive, the Gaels will head to Hawaii to for the Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic, hosted by the University of Hawaii. This year's event takes place over three days, from February 23-25, and serves as the opening matches for the season. While the opponents have not yet been announced, the Gaels had four ranked matchups in this tournament one season ago. Two of those were against second-ranked UCLA, the team that wound up finishing third in the NCAA Tournament in May. SMC also squared off against Hawaii and Stanford in last year's iteration of the event, with both teams ranked inside the top-10 at the time.
ALL OVER THE BAY
The rest of the 2023 portion of the schedule takes place in the greater regions of the Bay Area, with no travel further than Santa Cruz set to take place until the WCC Championship in Santa Monica. Saint Mary's plays four-straight beach matches at home from March 10-15, with UC Davis, Utah, Santa Clara, and San Francisco all coming to town. There are also midseason events in Santa Cruz on March 4 (West Coast Challenge) and March 25-26 (West Coast Midseason Tournament). Single matches are also on tap at Stanford, Cal, and Pacific in the month of March.
WINDING DOWN
There are three home matches scheduled for April, when the season builds towards the WCC Championship. The Gaels host Cal and Cabrillo as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15, and then bring in Pacific for Senior Day on April 22. These matches will get the Gaels back at home after a long stretch on the road concludes with neutral site action at Stanford and Sacramento State on April 5 and 8. The WCC Championship is scheduled for April 28-29, and the Gaels will look to improve on their fourth-place finish from one season ago.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH
"Once again we have put together a schedule that boasts many nationally ranked contenders. Our players come to Saint Mary's to compete at the highest level and we have given them that challenge again in 2023. We can't wait to get things started in Hawaii!" – head coach, Gary Hodge
SEASON OF ALOHA
For the second-consecutive, the Gaels will head to Hawaii to for the Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic, hosted by the University of Hawaii. This year's event takes place over three days, from February 23-25, and serves as the opening matches for the season. While the opponents have not yet been announced, the Gaels had four ranked matchups in this tournament one season ago. Two of those were against second-ranked UCLA, the team that wound up finishing third in the NCAA Tournament in May. SMC also squared off against Hawaii and Stanford in last year's iteration of the event, with both teams ranked inside the top-10 at the time.
ALL OVER THE BAY
The rest of the 2023 portion of the schedule takes place in the greater regions of the Bay Area, with no travel further than Santa Cruz set to take place until the WCC Championship in Santa Monica. Saint Mary's plays four-straight beach matches at home from March 10-15, with UC Davis, Utah, Santa Clara, and San Francisco all coming to town. There are also midseason events in Santa Cruz on March 4 (West Coast Challenge) and March 25-26 (West Coast Midseason Tournament). Single matches are also on tap at Stanford, Cal, and Pacific in the month of March.
WINDING DOWN
There are three home matches scheduled for April, when the season builds towards the WCC Championship. The Gaels host Cal and Cabrillo as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15, and then bring in Pacific for Senior Day on April 22. These matches will get the Gaels back at home after a long stretch on the road concludes with neutral site action at Stanford and Sacramento State on April 5 and 8. The WCC Championship is scheduled for April 28-29, and the Gaels will look to improve on their fourth-place finish from one season ago.
Time to hit the beach! 🏐
— Saint Mary's Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) December 20, 2022
The 2023 beach schedule has officially dropped! #GaelsRise
Full details ⬇️https://t.co/j2uM5uLgZF pic.twitter.com/meMtyWVknu
THOUGHTS FROM COACH
"Once again we have put together a schedule that boasts many nationally ranked contenders. Our players come to Saint Mary's to compete at the highest level and we have given them that challenge again in 2023. We can't wait to get things started in Hawaii!" – head coach, Gary Hodge
#GaelsRise
Friday, July 08
Friday, July 08
Tuesday, May 24
Tuesday, May 24
