DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Volleyball Announces 2023 Schedule
6/6/2023 11:58:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Blue Demons to host 12 matches at McGrath-Phillips Arena
CHICAGO – DePaul head volleyball coach Marie Zidek announced the program's 2023 fall schedule on Tuesday. The slate features 12 games hosted at McGrath-Phillips Arena in addition to a home exhibition in August.
"The 2023 schedule presents two big time opportunities for this program. First, this group has worked very hard this off season for the opportunity to be tested early in the non-conference segment of the 2023 season," said Zidek.
After an Aug. 19 exhibition versus Bradley, the Blue Demons will open the campaign in Ames, Iowa Aug. 26-27 with matches against South Dakota and the host Cyclones. The second weekend of the season will take the Blue Demons to the East Coast to Buffalo, N.Y., Aug. 31-Sept. 2, for matches against Montana, Binghamton and the Bulls.
"Opening at Iowa State with the Cyclones and South Dakota followed by another road weekend at the Buffalo Invitational provides tremendous opportunities for us to galvanize our group quickly while on the road. We will be road-heavy this conference season, including for the BIG EAST Tournament, so learning how to win on the road and win back-to-back matches on the road will be mini-goals on our board." Â
The Blue Demons will return to Lincoln Park to host the annual DePaul Invitational, Sept. 7-9. The 2023 field includes Northern Illinois, St. Thomas and Evansville. Saturday's match versus the Purple Aces will serve as Alumni Day.
"Returning to Chicago for our homestand vs NIU, Evansville, and St. Thomas will allow us to build on early season defensive momentum that we hope to grow into offensive depth that is able to protect our home court."
DePaul will make the short trip up I-94 to set up a match with Milwaukee on Sept. 12.
The Blue Demons will wrap up non-conference play against local foes with a match at Loyola on Friday, Sept. 15 before hosting UIC on Sept. 16.
"Rounding out non-conference play with Loyola and UIC, two NCAA Championship participants, will give us the opportunity to access a higher game for longer as well as take initiative in controlling the competitive turning points of a match."
BIG EAST play gets underway the fourth weekend in September as Georgetown and Villanova visit McGrath-Phillips Arena, Sept. 22-23.
Seven of the next eight matches for the Blue Demons will be on the road with defending BIG EAST-champions Creighton visiting Chicago on Oct. 7.
Â
A three-game homestand is set to begin on Oct. 27 with a match against Connecticut before hosting Marquette in a midweek matchup on Nov. 1.
Seton Hall and St. John's will descend upon McGrath-Phillips for the final weekend of the regular season, Nov. 17-18.
"These compounding lessons in the first month of season will lend us to the second opportunity of the fall schedule, which is to fight our way back into a post season competitive opportunity. Finishing just outside of the top grouping last year for a BIG EAST Tournament berth, this group is hungry to show that we have the ability to be back in that conversation. This group is all in, and we are excited for this year's championship chase."
Marquette will host the 2023 BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep, Nov. 22-25 at the Al McGuire Center. The six-team field will see the top-two seeds receive a bye into the semifinals.
Zidek and her staff welcome back 13 letterwinners from a season ago including eight seniors while welcoming in four newcomers.
2023-24 TICKET INFORMATION
Interested in tickets for the 2023 Volleyball Season? Complete the Ticket Interest Form to be contacted by the DePaul Ticket Office and learn more about season tickets and group offerings. Tickets will go on sale later this summer.
"The 2023 schedule presents two big time opportunities for this program. First, this group has worked very hard this off season for the opportunity to be tested early in the non-conference segment of the 2023 season," said Zidek.
After an Aug. 19 exhibition versus Bradley, the Blue Demons will open the campaign in Ames, Iowa Aug. 26-27 with matches against South Dakota and the host Cyclones. The second weekend of the season will take the Blue Demons to the East Coast to Buffalo, N.Y., Aug. 31-Sept. 2, for matches against Montana, Binghamton and the Bulls.
"Opening at Iowa State with the Cyclones and South Dakota followed by another road weekend at the Buffalo Invitational provides tremendous opportunities for us to galvanize our group quickly while on the road. We will be road-heavy this conference season, including for the BIG EAST Tournament, so learning how to win on the road and win back-to-back matches on the road will be mini-goals on our board." Â
The Blue Demons will return to Lincoln Park to host the annual DePaul Invitational, Sept. 7-9. The 2023 field includes Northern Illinois, St. Thomas and Evansville. Saturday's match versus the Purple Aces will serve as Alumni Day.
"Returning to Chicago for our homestand vs NIU, Evansville, and St. Thomas will allow us to build on early season defensive momentum that we hope to grow into offensive depth that is able to protect our home court."
DePaul will make the short trip up I-94 to set up a match with Milwaukee on Sept. 12.
The Blue Demons will wrap up non-conference play against local foes with a match at Loyola on Friday, Sept. 15 before hosting UIC on Sept. 16.
"Rounding out non-conference play with Loyola and UIC, two NCAA Championship participants, will give us the opportunity to access a higher game for longer as well as take initiative in controlling the competitive turning points of a match."
BIG EAST play gets underway the fourth weekend in September as Georgetown and Villanova visit McGrath-Phillips Arena, Sept. 22-23.
Seven of the next eight matches for the Blue Demons will be on the road with defending BIG EAST-champions Creighton visiting Chicago on Oct. 7.
Â
A three-game homestand is set to begin on Oct. 27 with a match against Connecticut before hosting Marquette in a midweek matchup on Nov. 1.
Seton Hall and St. John's will descend upon McGrath-Phillips for the final weekend of the regular season, Nov. 17-18.
"These compounding lessons in the first month of season will lend us to the second opportunity of the fall schedule, which is to fight our way back into a post season competitive opportunity. Finishing just outside of the top grouping last year for a BIG EAST Tournament berth, this group is hungry to show that we have the ability to be back in that conversation. This group is all in, and we are excited for this year's championship chase."
Marquette will host the 2023 BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep, Nov. 22-25 at the Al McGuire Center. The six-team field will see the top-two seeds receive a bye into the semifinals.
Zidek and her staff welcome back 13 letterwinners from a season ago including eight seniors while welcoming in four newcomers.
2023-24 TICKET INFORMATION
Interested in tickets for the 2023 Volleyball Season? Complete the Ticket Interest Form to be contacted by the DePaul Ticket Office and learn more about season tickets and group offerings. Tickets will go on sale later this summer.
Highlights: Volleyball at Villanova
Friday, October 24
Highlights: DePaul Volleyball at Loyola Chicago
Sunday, September 21
Highlights: Volleyball at Milwaukee
Wednesday, September 17
Highlights: Volleyball vs. Chicago State
Sunday, September 14