RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- California Baptist University Head Coach Ryan McGuyre released the Lancers' 2011 women's volleyball schedule Thursday as the team looks to open it's first season of play in the Pacific West Conference.

CBU opens the season with two high quality NCAA Division II tournaments, before getting into the rigors of the PacWest schedule. The Lancers non-conference schedule includes inland area rival Cal State San Bernardino, as well as GSAC members Azusa Pacific and Biola.

"We are excited to be part of a new conference and look forward to the challenges it will bring," said McGuyre. "Every match and every environment will be new for us this year, but our expectations will be the same and we expect to compete for a PacWest title."

The Lancers open regular-season play at the Cal Poly Pomona Tournament Sept. 2-3 with a pair of matches each day. CBU then heads to Denver, Colo. for the Colorado Premier Challenge. One of CBU's opening matches in Colorado will be regional power Seattle Pacific and then the Lancers would have a possibility of facing four-time defending D-II champs Concordia St. Paul.

"Our non-conference schedule is extremely and I am confident it will prepare us for our conference," said McGuyre. "These matches, along with others, will help us know where we stand among the D-II elite and what we need to do in order to be there when the time is right."

CBU opens conference play on the road against Dixie State, Sept. 17 and then comes back to Riverside for its home opener against Cal State San Bernardino, Sept. 21. The Lancers have 17 scheduled PacWest dates, with one match against Cal Poly Pomona in mid-October.

CBU closes the season by traveling to Azusa Pacific and then hosting Biola.

The Lancers are coming off a season where they went 33-6, making it to the quarterfinals at the NAIA National Tournament. CBU returns three NAIA All-Americans, including two-time first-teamer Ingrid Carmona. McGuyre is coming off his first ever NAIA Coach of the Year Award.