Utah State Volleyball Announces 2006 Schedule

Utah State University’s first-year volleyball coachGrayson DuBose announced Thursday the upcoming 2006 schedule as the Aggieswill play a total of 31 matches during the regular season, including sevenencounters with NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.

Of those seven match-ups against NCAA teams, three will be at home asthe Aggies host Brigham Young on Sept. 12, defending Western AthleticConference champion Hawai’i on Nov. 4, and Nevada on Nov. 11 in the finalhome match of the season. In all, Utah State will play 10 matches at theDee Glen Smith Spectrum, a venue where the Aggies have gone 54-22 (.711)over the last seven seasons.

“Our schedule is going to be a great learning experience for our youngteam,” said DuBose. “It will be a challenge, but it should also allow us toprogress quickly as we learn new systems and playing style. We are excitedto be hosting Brigham Young and Weber State and are looking forward toanother great season in the Western Athletic Conference.”

Utah State opens the season at the New Mexico Invitational on Aug.25-26, as the Aggies will face Stephen F. Austin, UC Riverside and the hostLobos. USU will then play Cal State Northridge and Oregon the followingweekend at a tournament hosted by the Matadors before beginning its homeseason against Weber State on Tue., Sept. 5.

Utah State will then participate in the Utah Classic with fellow NCAATournament teams Missouri State and Utah, along with Temple on Sept. 8-9before hosting Brigham Young on Tues., Sept. 12. The Aggies will play inits fourth and final tournament of the regular season on Sept. 15-16 at OralRoberts University, as it will face Texas-Arlington, Arkansas-Little Rock,St. Francis, and the host Golden Eagles.

Utah State will open Western Athletic Conference play at home againstFresno State on Thur., Sept. 21 and against San Jose State on Sat., Sept.23, and the Aggies will conclude its regular season with a pair of roadmatches at Boise State and Idaho on Nov. 16 and 18, before participate inthe 2006 WAC Tournament from Nov. 23-25.

Utah State returns three starters and five letterwinners from lastyear’s team that went 23-11 overall, finished in a tie for second-place inthe Western Athletic Conference, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for thethird time in the last seven years, losing to Arizona in the first round.

Date Opponent TimeAug. 25-26 at New Mexico TournamentAug. 25 at New Mexico 7 p.m.Aug. 26 vs. Stephen F. Austin 9:30 a.m.Aug. 26 vs. UC Riverside 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 2 at Cal State Northridge TournamentSept. 2 vs. Oregon NoonSept. 2 at Cal State Northridge 8 p.m.

Sept. 5 WEBER STATE 7 p.m.

Sept. 8-9 at Utah ClassicSept. 8 vs. Missouri State 10 a.m.Sept. 8 at Utah 7 p.m.Sept. 9 vs. Temple Noon

Sept. 12 BRIGHAM YOUNG 6 p.m.

Sept. 15-16 at Oral Roberts TournamentSept. 15 vs. Texas-Arlington 9:30 a.m.Sept. 15 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock 1:30 p.m.Sept. 16 vs. St. Francis 1:30 p.m.Sept. 16 at Oral Roberts 6 p.m.

Sept. 21 FRESNO STATE* 7 p.m.Sept. 23 SAN JOSE STATE* 7 p.m.Sept. 28 NEW MEXICO STATE* 7 p.m.Sept. 30 LOUISIANA TECH* 7 p.m.Oct. 4 at Nevada* 8 p.m.Oct. 6 at Hawai’i* 10 p.m.Oct. 12 at Fresno State* 8 p.m.Oct. 14 at San Jose State* 9 p.m.Oct. 19 IDAHO* 7 p.m.Oct. 21 BOISE STATE* 7 p.m.Oct. 26 at Louisiana Tech* 6 p.m.Oct. 28 at New Mexico State* 7 p.m.Nov. 4 HAWAI’I* 7 p.m.Nov. 7 at Idaho State 7 p.m.Nov. 11 NEVADA* 7 p.m.Nov. 16 at Boise State* 7 p.m.Nov. 18 at Idaho* 8 p.m.Nov. 23-25 at WAC Tournament

*Denotes Western Athletic Conference Match.Home matches in BOLD CAPS.All times are Mountain time.All times and dates are tentative and subject to change.