HARRISONBURG, Va. – Defending Sun Belt Conference champion James Madison announced a challenging 2023 volleyball schedule, the 14th season led by Sun Belt Coach of the Year Lauren Steinbrecher.

JMU received votes in the AVCA national rankings last year and finished with an all-time high RPI of 21. With much of the SBC championship squad returning, the Dukes compiled a stacked 2023 slate, featuring four teams that finished ranked in the top 25 last year – No. 4 Pittsburgh, No. 7 Oregon, No. 11 Penn State and No. 23 Western Kentucky. In all, James Madison will play 12 matches against the top 100 of last year’s RPI.

Altogether, the Dukes are set to compete in 27 matches over the course of the fall. The slate includes 15 matches at home, 10 away dates and three neutral-site matchups. The reigning Sun Belt Conference champions will face eight different conference opponents, playing two-match series against each beginning on September 22.

The 2023 season will be the program’s first in the newly renovated Convocation Center. Previously the home of JMU basketball, the venue will now serve as the exclusive competition and practice home for volleyball, housing the program’s locker rooms, coaches’ offices, meeting rooms, strength and conditioning, nutrition, academics and more.

The squad will open play with in-state foe Virginia in a scrimmage on August 19. They will then start the regular season by hosting the JMU Invitational on August 25-27, welcoming non-conference opponents UMBC, Ohio, and High Point to Harrisonburg.

The team will then travel to Penn State for a three-match weekend against Colgate, Western Kentucky and the Nittany Lions on September 1-3 before returning home September 8-10 for the Dukes Classic, a three-day event that will New Hampshire, Cal Poly and VCU.

The Dukes will wrap up their non-conference slate with two matches in Pittsburgh. The team will face Oregon on Friday, Sept. 15 before taking on Pitt on Sunday, Sept. 16.

JMU will start Sun Belt Conference play when it travels to App State on September 22-24. Afterwards, it will face Texas State at home on September 28 and 29, followed by traveling to Old Dominion on October 6-7.

Georgia State will visit Harrisonburg to take on the Dukes on October 12 and 13. Then the team will head to Coastal Carolina on October 20 and 21. JMU will then take on Georgia State and Marshall at home before wrapping up its season at South Alabama.

The 2023 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Championship will be held in Foley, Ala. From November 17-19.

JMU returns most of its 2022 squad, including Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Sophie Davis, a middle blocker. Other returners include First Team All-Conference outside hitter Miëtte Veldman and Second Team All-Conference setter Caroline Dozier.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE 2023 SCHEDULE.

— JMU Athletics —