STOCKTON, Calif. – The program's newest era officially begins at the end of August when the team takes the court for the first time under Head Coach Jeff Hendershot – the first of 32 matches on the 2026 schedule.

Prior to the start of West Coast Conference play, Pacific will participate in four road non-conference showcases – starting with the Gael Bear Classic, hosted by California and Saint Mary's. There the Tigers open the season against Cal on Friday, August 28 followed by matches against Gonzaga and Southern Utah to round out the weekend. The match against Gonzaga will be played at Saint Mary's in Moraga.

Traditionally, the Tigers have found success against all three clubs – owning a 31-9 all-time record against Cal, 21-5 against Gonzaga and won the only prior meeting with Southern Utah. The matches versus Cal and SUU are the first since 2021 and 2011 respectively while Gonzaga is notable for the first meeting between the two schools not as conference foes since Gonzaga exited the conference at the end of last season.

Pacific remains in the Bay Area the following weekend, competing in the SJSU Invite on the campus of San Jose State. There the Tigers will face the host Spartans with matches versus UC Riverside and LSU New Orleans completing the weekend. Again, the team carries dominant 42-12 and 24-1 records against SJSU and UC Riverside respectively while meeting the Privateers for the first time in program history.

The final two weekends of the non-conference slate will be played outside California, traveling to Texas/New Mexico to take part in the Borderland Classic where they will meet hosts UTEP and New Mexico State on their home courts while also facing UC San Diego at UTEP. Hendershot's crew's last tune up before conference play will be in Pocatello, Idaho at the Idaho State Tournament. Boise State, Wyoming and host ISU will be the Tigers' three foes September 17-19.

"We're excited for the challenge and looking forward to playing a highly competitive preseason schedule. We've put together a great mix of matches that will test us early and prepare us for the level of competition we'll face in the WCC," Hendershot said.

Transitioning into conference play, Pacific will have an 18-game slate, beginning September 24 at WCC newcomer Denver for the first of a road match road swing before coming home October 8 to face Portland in the team's home opener. The team will get eight more home matches the rest of the way, highlighted by a three-match homestand to end the regular season against San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Saint Mary's. As the league plays a balanced schedule, fans will have an opportunity to see Pacific host every team in the conference.

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