TURLOCK, Calif. — The Stanislaus State volleyball team begins its 2025 season this week at the Sunbird Classic, hosted by Fresno Pacific University, playing three matches in the tournament. The Warriors play non-conference opponents in all three games, beginning with Fresno Pacific on Friday, September 5 at 11:30 a.m. followed by Westmont College that evening at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, September 6, Stan State faces Menlo College at 2:00 p.m.

A Look Back at 2024
Stanislaus State closed out the 2024 season at the NCAA West Regional, finishing 22-8 overall and 12-6 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play. Entering her fourth season at the helm, head coach Lauren Flowers returns four letterwinners, including CCAA Freshman of the Year Malia Tanksley and Isabella Saucedo, a member of the CCAA Volleyball Tournament All-Tournament Team.

Tanksley made an immediate impact in her debut season with a season-high 12 kills in three matches and 58 blocks over the course of the season. Saucedo continued to be a leader on the court, earning two double-doubles and a team-leading 248 kills on the season.

Shaelyn Pruiett and Christallynn Tate, who transferred to Stan State last season, look to continue making an impact on the court. Pruiett recorded 407 assists as a key part of the Warriors' offense, adding six double-doubles on the season to her stats. Tate improved throughout the season, with a season-high 13 kills on October 26.

2025 Home Schedule
Stanislaus State will host nine regular season matches at Fitzpatrick Arena this fall. The Warriors' home opener and first CCAA matchup will be September 18 at 5:00 p.m. versus Cal State Dominguez Hills. On September 20 at 2:00 p.m., Stan State takes on Cal State San Marcos, followed by Chico State on September 26 at 5:00 p.m., Cal Poly Humboldt on September 27 at 5:00 p.m., Cal State Los Angeles, who is receiving votes for national contention, on October 11 at 2:00 p.m., UC Merced on October 16 at 5:00 p.m., No. 11 Cal Poly Pomona on October 31 at 5:00 p.m., Cal State San Bernardino, who are receiving votes for national contention, on November 1 at 5:00 p.m., and Cal State Monterey Bay on November 8 at 5:00 p.m.

2025 Road Schedule
The Warriors will compete in 16 matches on the road, including their three matches at the Sunbird Classic. Their next away matches will be at the Biola/Vanguard Kickoff Tournament, where Stan State will face Biola University on September 11 at 3:30 p.m., Azusa Pacific University and Vanguard University on September 12 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., respectively, and Texas Permian Basin on September 13 at 1:00 p.m. The Warriors' first CCAA away match is at Cal State Monterey Bay on October 3 at 5:00 p.m., followed matches at Cal State East Bay at 5:00 p.m. on October 4, No. 4 San Francisco State University on October 9 at 5:00 p.m., Chico State on October 18 at 5:00 p.m., Cal State Dominguez Hills on October 24 at 5:00 p.m., Cal State San Marcos on October 25 at 2:00 p.m., UC Merced on November 6 at 7:00 p.m., Cal State Los Angeles, who is receiving votes for national contention, on November 14 at 5:00 p.m., and No. 11 Cal Poly Pomona at 12:00 p.m.

CCAA Preseason Poll and AVCA Preseason Poll
In the 2025 CCAA Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll, Stan State was projected to finish in fifth place. In the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll, Stan State received votes for national top 25 contention. The CCAA Volleyball Championships begin November 20, which will be hosted by Stan State. 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 November 20, with the semifinals and final match taking place November 21 and 22, respectively. The winner of the CCAA Volleyball Championship capturing the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

Academic Excellence
Stanislaus State continues to excel off the court. In Fall 2024, current players Kryslin James, Irene London, and Emily Meyer were named to the CCAA Fall Academic Honor Roll. The Division 2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) named Teagan Irish, Kryslin James, and Emily Meyer to their Academic Achievement Award list. Irish and James were also inducted into the inaugural class of the Stan State chapter of the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society. Teagan Irish, Kryslin James, Emily Meyer, Victoria Plumb, Shaelynn Pruiett, and Christallynn Tate were all named to the CCAA All-Academic Team as well.

Scouting Fresno Pacific
Fresno Pacific finished the 2024 season with an 18-10 record, including a 13-7 mark in PacWest play, finishing in third place in the conference standings. The Sunbirds are projected to finish fifth in the 2025 PacWest Preseason Coaches' Poll.

They return several key contributors, including First Team All-PacWest Cambria Waites, who recorded 1000 assists last season and a team-leading 42 service aces. PacWest Co-Freshman Player of the Year Makayla Smith also returns, after averaging three kills per set and earning 22 service aces last season.

Head coach Kelsee Montagna enters her second season leading the program after guiding the team to a third-place conference finish. This week's game marks the fourth all-time meeting between Stan State and Fresno Pacific, with the previous matchup in September of last year ending 3-1 in Stan State's favor.

Stan State Faces Westmont College for the First Time
Westmont completed the 2024 season with a 14-13 overall record and went 9-11 in PacWest play, finishing ninth in the regular-season standings. The Warriors were picked to finish 10th in the 2025 PacWest Preseason Coaches' Poll after falling in four of their first five matches last season.

Leading the Warriors this year is senior captain Alexis Dennick, who started in all 27 matches for the Warriors while averaging 1.47 kills per set and 1.06 blocks per set. Maddie Finnegan returns with 2.12 digs per set combined with 2.32 kills per set to aid the offense and defense.

This will be the first meeting between the Stan State and Westmont College volleyball teams.

Preview of Menlo College
Menlo College finished the 2024 season with a 9-18 record, including a 6-14 record in PacWest play under second-year head coach Leslie Akeo. The Oaks are projected to finish 11th in the 2025 PacWest Preseason Coaches' Poll.

They return several key contributors, including Maya Saole-Su'e, who played in all 27 matches last season, recording the most career block assists in program history. Jent Moala looks to continue serving up aces after recording 30 aces last season and earning a .246 hitting percentage.

This will be the second all-time meeting between Stan State and Menlo College, with the previous matchup in September of last year ending 3-1 with Stan State capturing the win.

Watch Live on FloCollege
All Stanislaus State home matches, along with CCAA contests and select non-conference games, will be streamed live and available on demand via FloCollege. This includes CCAA-hosted tournament games. Fans can subscribe and follow the Warriors by visiting goccaa.org/flocollege.

Coming Up Next
After the Sunbird Classic, Stan State heads south for the Biola/Vanguard Kickoff Tournament with matches in La Mirada, Calif. and Costa Mesa, Calif. The Warriors face Biola University on September 11 at 3:30 p.m., Azusa Pacific University and Vanguard University on September 12 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., respectively, and Texas Permian Basin on September 13 at 1:00 p.m.