By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University volleyball team will begin the 2020 season with game at Northwest Chrsitian University on Sept. 1, followed by a trip to St. Louis, Missouri, to compete in the Bear Invitational at Washington University. While in St. Louis on Sept. 4-5, the Bearcats will take on Webster University (Mo.), the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Birmingham-Southern College (Ala.), and Centre College (Ky.).

One week later, the Bearcats will play two matches in the Oregon Trail Classic on Sept. 11 at Pacific University. Tournament pairings put the Bearcats against California Institute of Technology and Mill College (Calif.).

The schedule also features 16 games against Northwest Conference opponents in a double round robin format. The Bearcats will take on each of their eight NWC opponents at Cone Field House, starting with nearby rival Linfield College on Sept. 18. Other home matches will be against Pacific University on Sept. 25, the University of Puget Sound on Sept. 26, Lewis & Clark College on Sept. 30, Pacific Lutheran University on Oct. 2, George Fox University on Oct. 17, Whitworth University on Nov. 6, and Whitman College on Nov. 7.

Willamette's home match with Pacific Lutheran is part of Homecoming and Family Weekend. The home match-up with Whitman will be Senior Night.