TUCSON, Ariz. – For the fourth year, the No. 6 Arizona Beach Volleyball team will host the two-day Arizona Invitational to open its 2017 season. UA will begin its fourth season on Friday, March 3 when the Wildcats take on Jacksonville at 2 p.m. and Hawaii at 6 p.m. MST. The matchup between Arizona and Jacksonville will be the team's first time hitting the sand together. This will be the second meeting for Arizona and No. 5 Hawaii as the teams competed against each other in Gulf Shores, Alabama for the first-ever NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship.

To close out the two-day tournament, UA will hit the sand against rivals Arizona State on Saturday, March 4 at 11 a.m. MST, which will air on Pac-12 Networks.

Coming off of a strong (20-7) season, this will be Arizona's second year being recognized as an NCAA sport. The 2017 team has added seven talented newcomers to its roster, two of which are from the indoor team.

Head coach Steve Walker said, "Jacksonville is a little bit of an unknown as our first opposition, but usually that first match is more about yourself and trying to study your own play."
"Obviously, Hawaii is the team that knocked us out of the NCAA Tournament and is a high profile program. We're going to have our hands full. They're a high level program and one that we have to prepare for each and every point, but we are ready to embrace that challenge. And obviously we have to turn right around the next morning and play our in-state rival, ASU, and they'll be ready to play us too. We'll have our work cut out for us opening weekend, but we'll be ready. We're playing at home, we're excited, and looking forward to it."

The Arizona Beach Volleyball Courts are located at Jimenez Field, the former practice football fields, on the corner of Enke Dr. and Campbell Ave. Admission to all home beach volleyball matches is free.

For this weekend's entire schedule see below.
Arizona Invitational
Friday, March 03
ASU vs. (No. 5) Hawaii (12 p.m.)
(No. 6) Arizona vs. Jacksonville (2 p.m.)
ASU vs. Jacksonville (4 p.m.)
(No. 6) Arizona vs. (No. 5) Hawaii (6 p.m.)

Saturday, March 04
(No. 5) Hawaii vs. Jacksonville (9 a.m.)
(No. 6) Arizona vs. ASU (11 a.m.) *on Pac-12 Networks

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