The University of the Pacific volleyball team will open its 2021 season with a trip to the SMU Invitational in Dallas, Texas. While in the Lone Star state, the Tigers will face North Carolina, Stephen F. Austin and the host Mustangs over the course of two days. Preseason polls in their respective leagues see that UNC, who is picked to finish seventh in the ACC, Stephen F. Austin has been selected to win the league title in the Western Athletic Conference and SMU was chosen third in the American Athletic Conference. 
 
The season-opening tournament will be one of four tournaments that will prepare the Tigers for the rigorous play in the West Coast Conference. Pacific head coach Greg Gibbons and his staff are excited to see how this team will come together after being impacted by the pandemic and injuries over the last few years. They will set the expectation together as a program as the team consists mainly of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. 

MATCH INFORMATION:
Teams: Pacific (0-0) at SMU (0-0)
Date: Friday, August 27, 2021
Time: 12:30 pm (CST) | 10:30 a.m. (PT)
Location: Dallas, Texas
Venue: Moody Coliseum
Live Stats: https://smumustangs.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Live Video: https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=28aea2b6-2966-4e17-b0a2-ec1f0dbe83eb
 
Teams: Pacific (0-0) vs. North Carolina (0-0)
Date: Friday, August 27, 2021
Time: 5:00 pm (CST) | 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Dallas, Texas
Venue: Moody Coliseum
Live Stats: https://smumustangs.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Live Video: Not available

Teams: Pacific (0-0) vs. Stephen F. Austin (0-0)
Date: Saturday, August 28, 2021
Time: 11:00 am (CST) | 9:00 a.m. (PT)
Location: Dallas, Texas
Venue: Moody Coliseum
Live Stats: https://smumustangs.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Live Audio: http://www.sfavolleyblog.net
 

Pacific Quick Facts • Nickname: Tigers • Conference: West Coast Conference  - Picked to finish 8th in the preseason • Spring 2021 Record: 1-8-3 (overall), 1-6-2 (WCC)  • Head Coach: Greg Gibbons

SMU Quick Facts • Name: Southern Methodist University • Location: Dallas, Texas • Nickname: Mustangs • Conference: American Athletic  - Picked to finish 3rd in the preseason • 2020-21 Record: 8-6 (overall), 4-4 (AAC)  • Head Coach: Lisa Seifert (26th year)

North Carolina Quick Facts • Name: University of North Carolina • Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina • Nickname: Tar Heels • Conference: Atlantic Coast  - Picked to finish 7th in the preseason • 2020-21 Record: 10-8 (overall), 9-7 (ACC)  • Head Coach: Joe Sagula (32nd year)

Stephen F. Austin Quick Facts • Name: Stephen F. Austin State University • Location: Nacogdoches, Texas • Nickname: Lumberjacks • Conference: Western Athletic  - Picked to finish 1st in the preseason • 2020-21 Record: 23-6 (overall), 11-1 (AAC)  • Head Coach: Debbie Humphreys (33rd year)

1,000 and More
Senior libero Jadyn Tubbs (Turlock, Calif.) reached the 1,000-career dig mark, last spring against Pepperdine on Feb. 18. Tubbs led the Tigers with 175 digs including a season-high 25 on three occasions.

Welcome to Stockton
There are four freshmen on the roster to go along with a UMBC transfer Darina Kumanova, who will be in their first season with the Tigers. Kumanova arrives to the Tigers after an accolade first season of college volleyball, where she was named first team All-America East Conference and Rookie of the Year, the school's first-year student in program history to be named to the First Team. She also earned a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team.

Family Tree
Alexa Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.) and Jenna Heller (Gilbert, Ariz.) are second generation members of the Tigers. Cathy Lumb-Edwards, the mother of Alexa Edwards, played on the 1986 national championship team and also went on to serve as a graduate assistant coach for the Tigers. Heller is the third member of her family to attend Pacific, as her father DJ (1989-90) played baseball while her mother Melanie (1988-91) was a two-time All-American on the volleyball team herself.
 
Classroom Success
The Tigers' Gabby Leo was named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic Team for a second-straight year for her efforts in the classroom. At the conclusion of each athletic season, the WCC selects an all-academic squad for each WCC-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, while also being a significant contributor to her team. Plus, Tubbs received honorable mention recognition.

Coming Soon
Next, the Tigers will host the University of the Pacific Tournament where they will host that will bring some of the region's top programs - UC San Diego and Cal to Stockton to go along with Tarleton State, who is picked to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference.