Match One
Gonzaga (0-0) vs. UConn (0-0)
Aug. 30 | 9:30 a.m. PST | Arlington, VA | Pentagon Athletic Center
 
Match Two
Gonzaga (0-0) vs. Navy (0-0)
Aug. 30 | 4:00 p.m. PST | Arlington, VA | Pentagon Athletic Center
 
Match Three
Gonzaga (0-0) vs. Air Force (0-0)
Aug. 31 | 9:00 a.m. PST | Arlington, VA | Pentagon Athletic Center
 
SERIES NOTES
vs. UCONN: This will be the second meeting between the programs. UConn holds the edge in the series 1-0 after a 3-0 win over Gonzaga in Spokane in 2006.
vs. Navy: First meeting
vs. Air Force: This will be the second meeting between the programs. Gonzaga leads the series 1-0 following a 3-1 win over the Falcons in a neutral site match in Bozeman, Mont., in 2017.
 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES:
UConn returns 10 letter winners from last season's squad that finished 15-16 overall with a 7-11 record in the American Conference. The Huskies return First Team All-Conference performer in Caylee Parker. Parker ended her freshman campaign with 14-straight double-doubles. She led UConn in kills (3.98/set) and ranked third on the squad in digs with 2.60 per set. The Huskies also return their top two blockers in Genna Florig and Kennadie Jake-Turner who averaged 0.9 and 0.71 blocks per set, respectively. As a squad last season, UConn averaged 13.3 kills per set, nearly two kills more per set than its opponents (11.5), 12.5 assists per set and hit at a .182 clip.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN ON THE MIDS:
After a 23-9 season that ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Navy returns half of theirs starting line-up from the Patriot League championship team. Back for the Mids is outside hitter Maddi Sgattoni, who was named the 2019 Patriot League Pre-Season Player of the Year. Sgattoni totaled 393 kills, averaging 3.40 per set last season, ranking third overall in the league. Emily Soils also provides veteran experience after starting in 22 matches a year ago. The Mids were picked to finish second in the league with four first place votes.
 
SCOUTING AIR FORCE:
Following a 17-15 campaign last season, the Falcons enter a new era under first year coach Keith Barnett. Finishing last season ninth in the Mountain West, the Falcons were chosen to finish in the same spot, receiving 28 points. After losing 2018 Mountain West All-Conference outside hitter in Elizabeth Pennington, Air Force returns with a young team with 10 underclassmen and one senior.
 
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN:
The Bulldogs' slate features five teams that advanced to postseason play in 2018 including seven teams that won at least 20 matches last season. The Zags face two first-time opponents this season in Navy and Ball State. Navy is fresh off an NCAA tournament appearance while Ball State advanced to the National Invitational Volleyball Championships (NIVC).
 
The Zags will also host their first home tournament in two seasons when they kick off their home slate with the Gonzaga Invitational Sept. 6-7. Gonzaga will play three matches over the two-day tournament against Grand Canyon, Ball State and Montana. Back-to-back tournaments Sept. 13-14 and Sept. 20-21 conclude nonconference play for the Bulldogs before opening West Coast Conference play against NCAA semifinalist BYU on Sept. 26. Currently, four WCC teams (BYU, No. 9; San Diego, No. 21; Pepperdine, RV; Loyola Marymount, RV) are ranked or receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Top 25.
 
A LOOK AT THE ROSTER:
Gonzaga is a fairly young squad this season with 10 underclassmen and seven freshmen (including Dani Batenhorst who redshirted the 2018 season).  Seniors Jenna Kuehn and Payton Mack return for their senior seasons, while Sarah Penner leads a group of five juniors. Penner was the lone Bulldog that was named to the Preseason All-WCC team, the first time in her career that she's been honored. Penner is also the only returning player to earn All-WCC recognition each of the last two seasons as she was named to the All-Freshmen team in 2017 and All-WCC Honorable Mention a season ago. The rising junior led Gonzaga in kills, attempts and points in 2018.
 
The Zags will be looking to fill the shoes of graduated libero Tiyana Hallums who set the program's all-time digs record with 1,369 career digs, finishing the season with a team-high 454 digs in 2018.  At the net, the Zags lost middle blocker Peighton De Von who posted a team-high 96 blocks last season, but redshirt junior Katelyn Oppio added 70 blocks in 2018 along with a team-high 27 service aces.
 
SEASON OPENERS THROUGH THE YEARS:
- Gonzaga has won 14 of its 33 season-opening matches.
- In the last 10 seasons, the Zags are 4-6 in season-openers.
- 10 of the Zags last 11 season-openers have been on the road or at a neutral site, and they've tallied an even 5-5 record in those matches.
 
ZAGS PICKED EIGHTH IN WCC PRESEASON POLL
Gonzaga was picked to finish eighth in the WCC Preseason Poll that is voted on by the league's coaches. The Zags finished with 32 votes, one fewer than both Pacific and Portland who were tied for sixth with 33 votes. No. 9 BYU was picked to finish first, while No. 21 San Diego was selected second. (RV) Pepperdine, (RV) LMU and Saint Mary's were selected third, fourth and fifth, while Santa Clara (ninth) and San Francisco (10th) rounded out the poll.