ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies women's volleyball team has announced its schedule for the 2024 season.
 
Oakland looks to build off its competitive 2023 season as the team finished the season 17-14 overall and 11-7 in conference play. Its 17 overall wins and 11 league wins marked the most in a season since 2017 as the Golden Grizzlies finished fifth in the Horizon League, also the best finish since 2017.
 
The Golden Grizzlies will hold its annual Black & Gold Scrimmage Friday, Aug. 23, before it travels to Bowling Green the following day (Aug. 24) for its sole exhibition match against another team.
 
The season officially begins as Oakland makes the trek to Buffalo, N.Y. for the Buffalo Invite presented by UB Dental and faces off against host University of Buffalo Friday, Aug. 30, before it takes on Army and Hampton University Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1, respectively.
 
Tournament play continues on as the team remains on the road but stays in Michigan for the EMU Tournament in Ypsilanti and starts off with a doubleheader Friday, Sept. 6, with matches against George Washington and Marshall prior to a meeting against in-state foe Eastern Michigan the following day. The Golden Grizzlies are no strangers to the team out of Ypsilanti, Mich., as this season marks the 33rd meeting and third-straight tournament matchup as the Golden Grizzlies took down the Eagles, three sets to one, at the Popcorn Classic last season, followed by the same result at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational.
 
The Sacramento State Hornets visit the OU Credit Union O'rena Friday, Sept. 13 for the Golden Grizzlies first home match of the regular season. Oakland then squares off against Saint Francis University the following day before a big test as it heads to Ann Arbor Sunday, Sept. 15 to face off against Power-Five opponent University of Michigan. This marks the first Power-Five opponent for the Golden Grizzlies in two years and the first meeting against the Wolverines in five years.
 
Tournament play wraps up in Athens, Ohio for the Ohio Invitational as Oakland goes against Liberty and Eastern Kentucky Friday, Sept. 20, before it faces Ohio University the following day for the first time in program history.
 
The last weekend of September opens up Horizon League play as the conference's format this season, with an exception of one home-and-home series, sees the teams playing twice on the same weekend, both at the same location.
 
Oakland welcomes Milwaukee to its home court both Friday and Saturday, September 27 and 28. The Golden Grizzlies last took down Milwaukee in 2019 and looks to break its winless set streak which dates back to then.
 
The team's home-and-home series starts on the road Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Cleveland State before the Vikings come back to Oakland Tuesday, Oct. 29 as the Golden Grizzlies swept the Vikings last season including a tight five-set match.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne and Green Bay are next on the docket with both series on the road, Oct. 11 and 12, followed by Oct. 18 and 19, respectively, before Oakland heads back to the OU Credit Union O'rena for three-straight games. IU Indy, formally known as IUPUI, heads to Rochester Oct. 25 as Oakland holds a six-match win streak which dates back to 2019. The Golden Grizzlies wrap up its home stint against the Cleveland State Vikings.
 
Two-straight weekends on the road wrap up the Golden Grizzlies road series for the regular season as it travels to Youngstown State for a pair Nov. 1 and 2, followed by a Northern Kentucky road trip the following Friday and Saturday.
 
The reigning Horizon League champions in Wright State come to town to wrap up the regular season Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15 and 16, where the teams split its series last season as both won on the road.