CHESTER, Pa. – The Widener University women's volleyball team has released its schedule for the upcoming 2022 season — its 40^th season in program history. The Pride, under the direction of head coach Donovan Anglin, will have an 26-match slate that features 11 home matches at Schwartz Athletic Center, a road trip to Texas, and four NCAA Tournament qualifiers from a year ago.
 
The Pride will open the season with a trip to the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas to play in four matches against Texas Lutheran, East Texas Baptist, Rose-Hulman, and LeTourneau on Sept. 2 and 3. The Pride will face Texas Lutheran and East Texas Baptist in a tri-match on Sept. 2, then will take on Rose-Hulman and LeTourneau in a tri-match on Sept. 3.
 
The Pride will come back to the East Coast for a match against defending MAC Commonwealth champion and NCAA Tournament qualifier Stevenson in their first conference game of the season on Sept. 7 at Stevenson. Then, the Blue and Gold will head across the Delaware River to Glassboro, N.J. to take on fellow NCAA qualifier Rowan and Catholic in a tri-match on Sept. 10.
 
The Pride will return to Chester to host York in their MAC Commonwealth home opener on Sept. 13. Following the game against the Spartans, Widener will head to Neumann Invitational to face Ursinus, Moravian and Gallaudet on Sept. 16 and 17. The Pride will take on Ursinus and Moravian on Sept. 16, then will go head-to-head against Gallaudet — an NCAA qualifier last year — on Sept 17.
 
After the Neumann Invitational, the Pride will head up to Reading to face Alvernia on Sept. 21. Then, the Pride will have three home events in a row. They will host Neumann and Goucher in a tri-match on Sept. 24, then take on Hood in a MAC Commonwealth match on Sept. 27, and face Arcadia and Penn College in a tri-match on Oct. 1.
 
Widener will then face Messiah in an away conference match on Oct. 5 before coming home for a tri-match against Stockton and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy — also a NCAA qualifier — on Oct. 8. From there, the Pride will have three away events in a row, as they play Gwynedd Mercy on Oct. 12, followed by Eastern on Oct. 19, and a tri-match with Hunter and Montclair State on Oct. 22.
 
The Pride will conclude the season with two consecutive MAC Commonwealth home matches, as they host Lebanon Valley on Oct. 25 and face Albright on Oct. 27.
 
Widener is coming off a 19-10 campaign, with its 19 wins being the most in program history since 2011, and having made the MAC Commonwealth Championship tournament for the third time in five seasons. The Pride return 10 players from last season, including All-MAC Commonwealth Second-Team selection Shannon Toomey.