TURLOCK, Calif.--- As defending California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Volleyball Champions, Stan State's volleyball team is looking to return to CCAA Volleyball Championship Tournament this season.  The Warriors return letter-winners from last year's team including CCAA Freshman of the Year Malia Tanksley. Stan State will begin its quest for a post-season berth starting Sept. 5 and 6 at the Sunbird Classic hosted by Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, Calif.

Malia Tanksley was named CCAA Freshman of the Year and an All-CCAA Honorable Mention. Tanksley recorded 12 kills in three different matches last season with a total of 153 in 74 sets played. Added to her kills were 58 total blocks including two solo blocks.

Fourth-year head coach Lauren Flowers will have six seniors on this year's team. Transfer setter Shaelyn Pruiett spent her first year on the Warrior roster last season, recording 407 assists, 43 service aces, and 221 digs. Isabella Saucedo returns after a team-high 248 kills, adding 20 service aces and 149 digs. Teagan Irish and Irene London are the two senior middle blockers looking to defend the net. Christallynn Tate, another transfer in her second season with the Warriors, put up 71 kills in 51 sets played, adding 21 blocks. Kryslin James played in seven games for the Warriors, recording 28 assists, a service ace, and four digs.

The Warriors finished the 2024 season 22-8 overall and 12-6 in CCAA play. Stan State was 19-7 going into the postseason, capturing the CCAA Volleyball Championships without going to five sets in any match. They made it to the NCAA DII Volleyball Tournament for the first time in program history with their automatic bid from winning the CCAA Championship.

At the Sunbird Classic, Sept. 5-7, the Warriors will face Fresno Pacific University, Westmont College, and Menlo College. All three opponents are members of the PacWest Conference, with Fresno Pacific University joining the CCAA in the 2026-2027 season.

Following the Sunbird Classic, Stan State travels to the Biola/Vanguard Kickoff Tournament in Costa Mesa, Calif. The Warriors will face four opponents in Biola University, Azusa Pacific University, Vanguard University, and the University of Texas Permian Basin. Biola and Azusa Pacific are members of the PacWest Conference, with Vanguard joining NCAA Division II this season and becoming a member of the PacWest. Texas Permian Basin competes in the Lone Star Conference.

Stan State will begin CCAA play on Thursday, Sept. 11 with its first home match, hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills. This is the start of a four-match home stand, continuing with Cal State San Marcos on Sept. 20, Chico State on Sept. 26, and Cal Poly Humboldt on Sept. 27.
 
The Warriors then travel for three matches, taking on Cal State Monterey Bay on Oct. 3, Cal State East Bay on Oct. 4, and San Francisco State on Oct. 9.
 
On Oct. 11, Stan state hosts Cal State Los Angeles and UC Merced on Oct. 16.
Later that week, the Warriors travel for three games, first facing Chico State on Oct. 18. Their next opponent in Cal State Dominguez Hills on Oct. 24 before visiting Cal State San Marcos on Oct. 25.
 
The Warriors return home for two matches, facing Cal Poly Pomona on Oct. 31 and Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 1.
 
The following week, Stan State plays one away and one home match, travelling to UC Merced on Nov. 6 before hosting Cal State Monterey Bay on Nov. 8.
 
The Warriors close out the regular season on the road, taking on Cal State Los Angeles on Nov. 14 and Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 15.

The following week, Stan State will host CCAA Volleyball Championship Tournament from Nov. 20-22.  The top six teams at the end of the regular season will receive a berth to the CCAA Volleyball Championship with the top two seeds earning a first-round bye.  The First Round will take place Nov. 20.  The semi-finals and final match take place, Nov. 21 and 22, respectively, with the winner of the CCAA Volleyball Championship capturing the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA's.
 
The NCAA Division II West Regional Championship will take place, Dec. 5,6, and 8 at a site to be determined. The winner of the West Regional will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships. This year's championships will take place at the Sanford Pentagon, Dec. 11-13, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.