Before San Diego State volleyball gets to introduce itself to the Pac-12 at home, it will have to live out of a suitcase.

The Aztecs released their 2026 schedule on Wednesday, June 3, unveiling a 26-match regular-season slate that begins with three consecutive road tournaments, features nine home matches at Aztec Court at Peterson Gym, and marks the program’s first season as a member of the Pac-12 Conference.

For head coach Brent Hilliard’s team, the new conference era does not begin gently.

San Diego State will open the season at the University of Washington Tournament from Aug. 28-30 in Seattle, facing IU Indy, host Washington, and UC Irvine on three straight days. It will then head to the UC Davis Tournament the following weekend for matches against UC Davis and Cal Poly, before making a third straight trip to Northern California for the Santa Clara Tournament against Santa Clara, California, and Cal State Bakersfield.

By the time the Aztecs finally play their home opener Sept. 18 against Arizona, they will already have played eight matches away from Peterson Gym.

SDSU’s nonconference slate includes 12 opponents that finished with winning records last season. Those teams combined for a 243-119 record, and three reached the NCAA Tournament.

The most difficult name may be Cal Poly, which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last season before falling to No. 1 Kentucky. USD, which hosts SDSU on Sept. 19 at Jenny Craig Pavilion, went 25-5 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Utah State, now a Pac-12 opponent, swept the Mountain West regular-season and tournament titles before also advancing to the second round.

The Aztecs know that name well.

They know Colorado State, too.

For the second consecutive season, SDSU’s year ended in the Mountain West Tournament semifinals against the Rams. The Aztecs took the opening set last November in Las Vegas before Colorado State controlled the final three in a 3-1 win.

Now, both programs move together into the Pac-12.

SDSU’s first conference match will come Sept. 24 at Colorado State, turning last season’s ending into the first step of the new league schedule.

From there, the Aztecs will stay on the road against Fresno State, Boise State, and Washington State, giving them four straight away matches to begin Pac-12 play.

The home conference opener arrives Oct. 8 against Oregon State.

That match begins the friendliest portion of the schedule. SDSU will play seven of its next eight matches at home, including four straight against Oregon State, Gonzaga, Utah State, and Texas State.

As a team that finished 15-16 last season and 9-9 in Mountain West play, that stretch may shape the conference race.

SDSU will play each of its eight league opponents twice, once at home and once on the road. The top four teams will qualify for the Pac-12 Championships from Nov. 21-23, where the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid will be at stake.

The new conference includes several familiar Mountain West programs — Colorado State, Fresno State, Boise State, and Utah State — along with Washington State, Oregon State, Gonzaga, and Texas State.

Washington State will be an opponent for SDSU for the first time. Oregon State returns to the schedule for the first time since 2018. Gonzaga enters the Pac-12 after SDSU beat the Zags in Spokane in both 2023 and 2024.

The Aztecs will try to navigate that new league with seven returning letterwinners, led by all-conference players Zara Stewart and setter Kendall Mairs. They also add a newcomer class headlined by freshman Logan Cary, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado as a high school senior.

San Diego State volleyball 2026 schedule

Home matches in CAPS

Aug. 28 — IU Indy, at Washington Tournament

Aug. 29 — at Washington, Washington Tournament

Aug. 30 — UC Irvine, at Washington Tournament

Sept. 4 — at UC Davis, UC Davis Tournament

Sept. 5 — Cal Poly, at UC Davis Tournament

Sept. 11 — at Santa Clara, Santa Clara Tournament

Sept. 12 — California, at Santa Clara Tournament

Sept. 13 — Cal State Bakersfield, at Santa Clara Tournament

Sept. 18 — ARIZONA

Sept. 19 — at San Diego

Sept. 24 — at Colorado State*

Sept. 26 — at Fresno State*

Oct. 1 — at Boise State*

Oct. 3 — at Washington State*

Oct. 8 — OREGON STATE*

Oct. 10 — GONZAGA*

Oct. 15 — UTAH STATE*

Oct. 17 — TEXAS STATE*

Oct. 24 — at Gonzaga*

Oct. 29 — BOISE STATE*

Oct. 31 — WASHINGTON STATE*

Nov. 5 — FRESNO STATE*

Nov. 12 — at Texas State*

Nov. 14 — COLORADO STATE*

Nov. 17 — at Oregon State*

Nov. 19 — at Utah State*

Nov. 21-23 — Pac-12 Championships

*Pac-12 match

Roman Aguilar

Roman Aguilar (he/him/his) is a San Diego State graduate from Stockton, California. He joined The Daily Aztec in 2022, covering football, men’s basketball, and water polo before becoming Sports Editor for three years. Aguilar was also the sports director for KCR College Radio for two years, where he covered SDSU athletics, reviewed concerts, and interviewed artists. Outside the newsroom, he’s often at local shows or watching his favorite horror films.