2005 Schedule in PDF Format
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May 11, 2005

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - In her annual quest to piece together one of the nation's most demanding schedules, UC Santa Barbara women's volleyball head coach Kathy Gregory has once again succeeded in 2005 as her Gauchos will play 16 matches against teams which joined them in last year's NCAA Tournament.

"This ranks right up there with the most difficult schedules we have faced," said Gregory, entering her 31st season at UCSB. "Last year we had a great record, and this year we want to maintain that success while playing the best competition possible. The goal with this schedule is to prepare us for a deep run into the NCAA's."

The three-time defending Big West Conference champion Gauchos will open their 2005 campaign at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., their only out-of-state trip of the regular season. Bright-and-early on Friday, Sept. 2 is a showdown with last year's Missouri Valley Conference runner-up Southwest Missouri State, followed by 2004 Big Dance participant Dayton later that afternoon. Tourney play concludes on Sept. 3 with a match against perennial national power and reigning Southeastern Conference co-champion Florida. UCSB was scheduled to travel to Gainesville last September, but saw its trip cancelled due to Hurricane Ivan.

The hurricane risk will be minimal in following weeks as the Gauchos spend considerable time in Northern California. From Sept. 8-10 Santa Barbara is slated to compete in the Bronco Invitational, where 2004 NCAA teams Arizona and Santa Clara - the tournament host - await along with Fresno State. Following a non-conference showdown on Sept. 14 at UC Davis - which will join the Big West in 2007-08 - UCSB faces arguably its most challenging weekend of the season at the Stanford Invitational. After opening tourney play on Sept. 15 against former league rival Utah State, the Gauchos take on NCAA Sweet 16 participant Saint Mary's followed by defending national champion Stanford.

Santa Barbara begins defense of its three straight Big West crowns on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Cal Poly before making its much-anticipated home debut on Friday, Sept. 30 against longtime conference rival Long Beach State, another 2004 Big Dance entrant. The Gauchos face each of their seven league opponents twice during the regular season, once on at home and once on the road. In addition to LBSU the Big West features Cal State Northridge, Pacific and UC Irvine, all of which earned NCAA berths a season ago.

UCSB will take an Oct. 18 break from conference play to face regional rival Pepperdine in Malibu, Calif., and following the conclusion of the Big West sate in mid-November Santa Barbara has four tune-up matches in preparation for the Big Dance. UC Davis will be the Gauchos' final home opponent on Nov. 19 followed by a trip to perennial postseason qualifier Loyola Marymount three days later. UCSB concludes the regular season at Long Beach State's Baden Thanksgiving Classic, facing 2004 NCAA tourney team Florida A&M on Nov. 25 and South Dakota State the next day.

The Gauchos finished last season with a 24-4 overall record (16-2 in conference) and No. 21 national ranking from the American Volleyball Coaches' Association. UCSB remained one of only four teams to compete in all 24 NCAA Championships dating back to the tournament's inception in 1981, reaching the second round. Leading the way will be a trio of AVCA All-West Region performers, senior middle blocker Megan Blackshire, junior middle Olivia Waldowski and junior outside hitter Janine Sandell.