View the 2012 Volleyball Schedule Here.

PORTLAND – Three non-conference road tournaments and an expanded Big Sky Conference highlight the Portland State Volleyball 2012 schedule released by Head Coach Michael Seemann on Friday. In addition to two new Big Sky opponents, this year's schedule includes match-ups against three Pacific-12 Conference teams.
 
The Vikings, who fell just short of their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance with a second-place 2011 Big Sky finish, lost senior libero Nicole Bateham to graduation but return six starters, including Big Sky All-Conference first team selections Garyn Schlatter and Megan Ellis. Nine other letter-winners return for the Vikings, who went 18-13 overall and 12-4 in Big Sky play last season. 
 
With a young and talented team, the 2012 Vikings will be contenders for the Big Sky regular season and tournament titles. Their season begins Aug. 24-25 in Seattle at the Northwest Challenge, hosted this year by the University of Washington. In its fifth year, the tournament pits four regional teams against one another: Washington, Portland State, Boise State and Gonzaga. This season, the Vikings open against Gonzaga on Aug. 24.
 
"Starting the season at the Northwest Challenge is a great opportunity to see where we measure up against strong non-conference teams that we've seen consistently," Seemann said.
 
The Vikings then head to Stockton, Calif. for the 34th Annual Community Bankers Classic hosted by the University of the Pacific on Aug. 31-Sept. 1. The Vikings will match up against Pacific as well as Northern Illinois and Nevada.
 
“We've had good history of tough wins at Pacific,” Seemann said. “This is a highly competitive tournament. Pacific is going to be very good at home, and Northern Illinois is a top RPI program that we should have an interesting battle with."
 
The Vikings open their home schedule at 7 pm, Tuesday Sept. 4, against UC Santa Barbara at the Peter W. Stott Center. “Opening our home schedule with Santa Barbara is going to be fun," Seemann said. "They're a good team from a great conference. It will be one of our most exciting match-ups this preseason."
 
PSU then travels to the BYU Nike Invitational in Provo, Utah, on Sept. 7-8. The Vikings will see Bowling Green, Utah, and BYU at the tournament.
 
The Vikings return home Wednesday, Sept. 12 for a 7 pm match against the Pac-12's Oregon, the Vikings' last non-conference opponent of the season. 
 
"We are looking forward to playing Oregon," Seemann said. "They typically bring a dynamic offense, and we've been very competitive against them on our home floor."
 
The Vikings begin their 2012 Big Sky schedule with four consecutive matches on the road. Their opening weekend of Big Sky play pits them against Sacramento State on Sept. 15 and Eastern Washington on Sept. 17. 
 
“Opening weekend on the road is always tough,” Seemann said. “Sac State and Eastern Washington are notorious tournament teams and difficult places to play. We should be in a good rhythm for the trip having played strong opponents on the road before getting to Sacramento."

PSU takes on Montana and Montana State in back-to-back matches in Missoula and Bozeman, Mont., on Sept. 21 and 22 before returning to Portland for a four-match home stand.
 
The Vikings open their home schedule against Northern Arizona on Thursday, Sept. 27 and Big Sky newcomer Southern Utah on Saturday, Sept. 29. Northern Colorado and the second Big Sky newcomer North Dakota face the Vikings in the Stott Center on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6.
 
Portland State wraps up the first half of Big Sky play with road matches at Idaho State (Pocatello, Idaho) and Weber State (Ogden, Utah) October 12 and 13.
 
In the second half of the conference season, the Vikings face each of the Big Sky teams again -- switching home and away venues. This means the Vikings will end the regular season at home, against Idaho State and Weber State.
  
“Every year, it comes down to the last few matches of conference play to settle who wins the regular season, so we're looking forward to playing those final games in front of our fans," Seemann said.
 
Northern Colorado, 2011's regular season champions, hosts the Big Sky Championship Tournament on Nov. 23-24 in Greeley, Colo.