Lions Release 2023 Volleyball Schedule
COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce has announced the 2023 volleyball schedule, that features 10 home matches, on Friday morning.
The Lions play in four tournaments in non-conference play and host a non-conference match as well, under the guidance of first year coach Joe Morales.
“I am very excited about our schedule, which competitive one and we are looking to get better each week. Southland play will be a fight each match and I believe our team is up to the task, ready and welcomes it. We are just ready to get started,” said Morales.
Prior to beginning the regular season, the Lions head down to Nacogdoches to face Stephen F. Austin in an exhibition match on August 19. The two teams met last season during the regular season as well.
The regular season begins in San Antonio as part of the UTSA Invitational. A&M-Commerce faces Missouri State and Texas Southern as part of a doubleheader on August 25. The weekend closes out on August 26 against the host, UTSA.
A&M-Commerce has never faced Missouri State and Texas Southern, while it is the sixth meeting against UTSA, but first since 1990. The Lions are 3-2 all-time in the series and this is the first meeting between the two teams in San Antonio.
The Lions head to Abilene Christian for a mid-week non-conference match on August 29. The two former conference foes, who have met 55 times previously, are meeting for the first time since 2012. The Lions are 29-26 all-time and 10-11 in Abilene.
Next, A&M-Commerce heads to Lubbock on Labor Day Weekend to take part in the Red Raider Classic, hosted by Texas Tech. On September 1, the Lions face Wyoming and Louisiana, while facing the Red Raiders on September 2.
The Lions are meeting both Wyoming and Louisiana for the first time and Texas Tech for the third time. The Red Raiders are 2-0 in the all-time series with the two previous meetings coming in 1984 (Lubbock) and 1985 (Commerce).
The first home match of the season takes place on September 5 against Prairie View A&M. The Lions took a 3-0 win over the Panthers in Prairie View last season, which was A&M-Commerce’s first win as a NCAA Division I program.
The third tournament of the season takes the Lions to Birmingham, Alabama, for the Blazer Classic, hosted by UAB.
The Lions renew their rivalry against Tarleton on September 9 to begin the weekend, face Alabama later in the day, and close out the weekend against UAB on September 10.
Both the Crimson Tide and the Blazers are facing the Lions for the first time. The Lions take on the Texans for the 56th time, looking for their third consecutive win in the series. A&M-Commerce pulled off a thrilling five-set win in Stephenville last season. The two teams are meeting at a neutral site for the first time since 2005.
Southland Conference play begins on September 14 at home against McNeese in a rematch of last season’s SLC Tournament Quarterfinals.
The next day, the Lions head to Arlington to close out non-conference play at the UTA Invitational. A&M-Commerce faces North Texas on September 15, facing the Mean Green in Arlington for the second consecutive season, and it is the 19th overall meeting between the teams. The Lions battle the host, UT Arlington, on September 16, also a rematch from last season. UTA is 3-0 all-time in the series.
The Lions resume conference play on September 23 at Lamar. Both teams won on their home court last season. A&M-Commerce hosts Northwestern State on September 26, another team that they beat at home and fell on the road last season.
To close out the first full week of SLC play, the Lions head to New Orleans on September 28 and defending conference tournament champion Southeastern on September 30. The Lions downed UNO in the SLC Tournament and collected a home win over Southeastern last season.
UIW comes to Commerce on October 5, who the Lions beat twice last season. A&M-Commerce hosts A&M-Corpus Christi on October 7 and head to defending conference champion Houston Christian on October 12.
The Lions are back at home to begin the second half of conference play against Lamar on October 14. After heading to Nicholls on October 19, where the Lions won last season, they host SLU on October 21.
The second match of the season against Northwestern State comes on October 24. The Lions host New Orleans on October 26 and make the return trip to McNeese on October 28.
The final homestand of the season comes against Nicholls on November 2 and HCU on November 4. The Lions close out the regular season at UIW on November 9 and at A&M-Corpus Christi on November 11.
Morales added, “I am looking forward to getting this team on campus, starting the process and journey all together. Really thrilled about my assistant Morgan Williams who joined in June and our graduate assistant Makenna Hanssen returning, each has added a new and fresh element to our program, I am lucky to have them.”
This season, the Lions look to punch their ticket to the postseason for the 12th year in a row. The Islanders serve as hosts of the SLC Tournament on November 16-19.
2023 LION VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Site | Time8 |
| Aug. 19 | at Stephen F. AustinEXH | Nacogdoches | 1 p.m. |
| Aug. 25 | vs. Missouri State1 | San Antonio | 12:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 25 | vs. Texas Southern1 | San Antonio | 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 26 | at UTSA1 | San Antonio | 2 p.m. |
| Aug. 29 | at Abilene Christian | Abilene | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 1 | vs. Wyoming2 | Lubbock | 11 a.m. |
| Sept. 1 | vs. Louisiana2 | Lubbock | 4:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 2 | at Texas Tech2 | Lubbock | 2 p.m. |
| SEPT. 5 | PRAIRIE VIEW A&M | COMMERCE | 6:30 P.M. |
| Sept. 8 | vs. Tarleton3 | Birmingham, Ala. | 11 a.m. |
| Sept. 8 | vs. Alabama3 | Birmingham, Ala. | 4 p.m. |
| Sept. 9 | at UAB3 | Birmingham, Ala. | 2 p.m. |
| SEPT. 14 | MCNEESESLC | COMMERCE | 6:30 P.M. |
| Sept. 15 | vs. North Texas4 | Arlington | 2:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 16 | at UT Arlington4 | Arlington | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 23 | at LamarSLC | Beaumont | 2 p.m. |
| SEPT. 26 | NORTHWESTERN STATESLC | COMMERCE | 6:30 P.M. |
| Sept. 28 | at New OrleansSLC | New Orleans, La. | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 30 | at SoutheasternSLC | Hammond, La. | 11 a.m. |
| OCT. 5 | UIWSLC | COMMERCE | 6:30 P.M. |
| OCT. 7 | A&M-CORPUS CHRISTISLC | COMMERCE | 11 A.M. |
| Oct. 12 | at Houston ChristianSLC | Houston | 6:30 p.m. |
| OCT. 14 | LAMARSLC | COMMERCE | 1 P.M. |
| Oct. 19 | at NichollsSLC | Thibodaux, La. | 6:30 p.m. |
| OCT. 21 | SOUTHEASTERNSLC | COMMERCE | 11 A.M. |
| Oct. 24 | at Northwestern StateSLC | Natchitoches, La. | 6:30 p.m. |
| OCT. 26 | NEW ORLEANSSLC | COMMERCE | 6:30 P.M. |
| Oct. 28 | at McNeeseSLC | Lake Charles, La. | 11 a.m. |
| NOV. 2 | NICHOLLSSLC | COMMERCE | 6:30 P.M. |
| NOV. 4 | HOUSTON CHRISTIANSLC | COMMERCE | 1 P.M. |
| Nov. 9 | at UIWSLC | San Antonio | 6:00 p.m. |
| Nov. 11 | at A&M-Corpus ChristiSLC | Corpus Christi | 1 p.m. |
| Nov. 16-19 | SLC Tournament | Corpus Christi | TBA |
* – Times Subject to Change
1 – UTSA Invitational
2 – Red Raider Classic
3 – Blazer Classic
4 – UTA Invitational
EXH – Exhibition Match
SLC – Southland Conference Match
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