TUCSON, Ariz.—The Arizona Beach Volleyball team will open the 2024 season at home, playing in the Cactus Classic Feb. 23-24 at Bear Down Beach. Friday's match between the Wildcats and Bakersfield will feature a guest serve by Arizona Volleyball head coach Charita Stubbs. Saturday will be Kid Cat/Youth day, and fans will have the opportunity to receive free water bottles. 
 
In the 2024 season, Arizona Beach Volleyball will compete in 30 regular season matches, 11 of which are conference matchups. The Sand Cats ended the 2023 season 21-12, with an 11-2 record at home.
 
Cactus Classic Match Ups
 
San Francisco- The Wildcats are undefeated (2-0) in their matchups against San Francisco. In their last meeting, in March 2023, the Wildcats defeated San Francisco in a 5-0 sweep in Malibu.
 
CSU Bakersfield- The Wildcats have an overall record of 5-1 against Cal State Bakersfield, winning their past four matchups against the Roadrunners. Their most recent matchup was in 2022 and resulted in a sweep for Arizona, with the Wildcats winning 5-0.
 
UTEP-Arizona is 2-0 in their meetings with UTEP. The Wildcats won their last matchup against the miners 4-1 in the 2023 season.
 
Boise State- Arizona has dominated their past matchups with Boise State, going 12-0 against the Broncos. In their most recent meeting last season, the Wildcats defeated Boise State 5-0 at home.
 
Cactus Classic full match schedule:
 
Friday, Feb. 23:
 
MATCH 1- Boise St. vs. Bakersfield (9:00 a.m.)
MATCH 2- UTEP vs. Colorado Mesa (10:00 a.m.)
MATCH 3- San Francisco vs. Arizona (11:00 a.m.)
MATCH 4- Colorado Mesa vs. Boise St. (12:00 p.m.)
MATCH 5- Bakersfield vs. Arizona (2:00 p.m.)
MATCH 5- San Francisco vs. UTEP (2:00 p.m.)
 
Saturday, Feb. 24:
MATCH 1- San Francisco vs. Colorado Mesa (9:00 a.m.)
MATCH 2- UTEP vs. Arizona (10:00 a.m.)
MATCH 3- Colorado Mesa vs. Bakersfield (11:00 a.m.)
MATCH 4- Boise St. vs. San Francisco (12:00 p.m.)
MATCH 5- Bakersfield vs. UTEP (1:00 p.m.)
MATCH 6- Arizona vs. Boise St. (2:00 p.m.)
 
The Wildcats will host three tournaments and one single match up against ASU over the course of the 2024 season:

• Feb. 23-24: Cactus Classic
• March 14: Arizona Duals
• March 22-23: Arizona Invitational
• April 18: vs. ASU

The Sand Cats roster is comprised of 10 returners and six freshman players.
 
NOTING THE WILDCATS

Hope Shannon is 50-29 in her career at Arizona, ranking 13^th in Arizona Beach Volleyball history for career wins. Last season, Shannon went 19-12 with partner Abby Russell, and was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and 2023.
 
Russell has a record of 42-29 at Arizona and was also named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and 2023.
 
Kylee Fitzsimmons went 9-3 in the 2023 season with partner Caroline White.
 
Annie Kost has a career record of 26-17 with the Wildcats. Last season, Kost went 17-10 with partner Miranda Erro, and was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and 2023.
 
Miranda Erro is 19-12 in her time at Arizona. Last season, Erro went 17-10 with Kost as her partner and 2-1 with partner Caroline White.
 
Grace Cook joined the Wildcats in 2023 after transferring from Missouri St., where she was the all-time individual career wins leader with 39. In her career at Arizona, Cook is 21-11, a record she achieved last season with partner Alana Rennie.
Steve Walker is entering his 11^th season as a coach for the Wildcats. Walker has a career record of 180-82 (.687) at Arizona. Named the 2016 Pac-12 Beach Volleyball Coach of the Year, Walker led Arizona to the first NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship in 2016.