TURLOCK, Calif.---  The 2024 season will begin at the Sunbird Classic in Fresno, Calif., Sept. 5-7 on the campus of Fresno Pacific University for Stan State.  The Warriors will face four NCAA Division II West Region opponents at the classic in Fresno Pacific (Sept. 5, 7:00 p.m.), Jessup (Sept. 6, 11:30 a.m.), Academy of Art (Sept. 7, 11:30 a.m.), and Dominican (Sept. 7, 4:30 p.m.).  All four of the Warrior opponents are members of the PacWest Conference.

WARRIORS:  Stan State returns eleven letter-winners from last year's team that finished 9-18.  The Warriors went 4-14 in the CCAA.  All-CCAA honorees Gabby Rawson and Alex Byrd return for the senior seasons.  Rawson led the Warriors with her 512 digs (5.39 digs/set) and Byrd had a team leading 117 total blocks (1.22 blocks/set).  Ellison Weaver led Stan State with her 212 kills followed by Mariah Iosua with 196 and Byrd with 149.  Byrd had a team high .276 hitting percentage.  Leading the Warriors with her 514 assists was Haley Burdo.  Graduating senior Eyriana Eatmon had 38 service aces in 2023 followed by Rawson with 23 and Burdo with 22. 

FRESNO PACIFIC:  The Sunbirds and the hosts of the Sunbird Classic will be the Warriors' first opponent of the classic.  Fresno Pacific went 13-16 in 2023 including 9-11 in the PacWest.  The Sunbirds returns seven letter-winners from last year's team.  Mia Gilcrest leads the way with her 198 kills while McKenna Hughes recorded 27 service aces.  Geneva Elliott led FPU with her 95 total blocks followed Madison Girnius' 88. 

ALL-TIME SERIES:  Stan State leads the all-time series 2-0 over Fresno Pacific.  The Warriors defeated FPU in three sets last season in Turlock behind Haley Burdo's 21 assists and two service aces while Gabby Rawson recorded 20 digs.  They won the first meeting in five in 2021 in Fresno

JESSUP:  The Warriors finished the 2023 season with an 11-10 record.  They are in their transition year of entering NCAA Division II and the PacWest Conference.  Jessup returns ten letter-winners from last year's team including Madalyn Miller who had a team high 243 kills last season.  Carolena Bogdanovich had a team leading 66 total blocks.

ALL-TIME SERIES:  Stan State leads the all-time series 3-0 with Jessup.  The Stan State Warriors won the last three meetings in three sets.

ACADEMY OF ART:  The Urban Knights return nine letter-winners from last year's team that finished 5-22 including 4-16 in the PacWest.  Alohi Garcia had 171 kills last season while Lina Ellila recorded a team high 346 assists.  Sofia Stemberga led the Urban Knights with her 405 digs and Chandra Reed had a team leading 79 total blocks.

ALL-TIME SERIES:  The Warriors lead the all-time series 5-3 including defeating Academy of Art in five sets in Turlock last season.  Autumn Kirby had 10 kills and Alex Byrd added seven blocks to go with Isabella Saucedo's three service aces.  The Warriors have won the last four meetings between the two teams.

DOMINICAN:  The Penguins went 13-16 overall and 9-11 in the PacWest in 2023.  They have seven returners from last year's team led by Ella Heckman's 147 kills and Camille Rivers' 315 assists.  Miekayla Surnip had a team high 315 digs and Avery Schneider added 54 total blocks.

ALL-TIME SERIES:  Stan State leads the all-time series 8-0.  The Warriors defeated the Penguins in three sets in 2022 in San Rafael behind the trio of Autumn Kirby (nine kills), Haley Burdo (31 assists), and Makenna Carrillo (five service aces).

CCAA SPORTS ON FLOSPORT
All CCAA events this season can be viewed on FloSports. For fans eager to watch fall sports go to GoCCAA.org/FloSports to pay $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year ($8.33/month). Additionally, those who use a .edu email from a CCAA member institution will be able to sign up at a discounted subscription price of $9.99 per month or $69.99 for the year ($5.83/month).

Fans are encouraged to sign up using the CCAA Landing Page GoCCAA.org/FloSports on FloSports to receive any discounts.

Watch CCAA on FloSports broadcasted events on your smart TV or mobile devices by downloading the FloSports app available for Roku, FireTV, Apple TV, or for iOS and Android devices

UP NEXT:  Stan State returns to the court, Sept. 12-14, when the Warriors host the six-team Stan State Volleyball Tournament at Fitzpatrick Arena.  The five other teams are Chico State, Dominican, Jessup, Menlo, and UC Merced.  The Warriors will face UC Merced (Sept. 12 at 5:30pm), Menlo (Sept. 13 at 5pm), Jessup (Sept. 14 at 2pm), and Dominican (Sept. 14 at 7pm).