By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A new season is set to start for the Western Washington University Vikings with a busy schedule of events planned for opening weekend September 5-8 in Bellingham.
It all starts Thursday for the volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer team with the official start to the 2024-25 season. Over a four-day stretch, Thursday-Sunday (Sept. 5-8), WWU Athletics will host 12 events on campus.
Thursday's Opening Day schedule includes the men's soccer team taking on No. 18 Chico State at 4 pm at Harrington Field and the opening match of the WWU Volleyball Invitational at 4:30 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym with No. 22 Central Washington facing No. 7 MSU Denver. The Western women's soccer team hosts MSU Denver at 7 pm at Harrington Field and the Viking volleyball squad makes its debut at 7 pm in Carver Gym battling West Region foe Sonoma State.
Events will also be held Friday (three volleyball), Saturday (three volleyball, one men's soccer) and Sunday (one women's soccer) to close out a busy start to the 2024-25 season.
Cross Country (9/14), Women's Golf (9/20) and Men's Golf (9/23) are also set to make their season debuts in September.
OPENING WEEK SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Here is a detailed look at the daily events during opening week of the 2024-25 season for WWU Athletics. The complete schedule for all Viking athletic events can be found online at WWUVikings.com/Schedule.
Thursday, September 5:
4:00 pm: Men's Soccer – WWU #18 Chico State
4:30 pm: Volleyball – #22 Central Washington vs. #7 MSU Denver
7:00 pm: Women's Soccer – WWU vs. MSU Denver
7:00 pm: Volleyball – WWU vs. Sonoma State
Friday, September 6:
12:30 pm: Volleyball – #7 MSU Denver vs. Sonoma State
4:30 pm: Volleyball – #22 Central Washington vs. San Francisco State
7:00 pm: Volleyball – WWU vs. #7 MSU Denver
Saturday, September 7:
11:00 am: Volleyball – #7 MSU Denver vs. San Francisco State
1:00 pm: Men's Soccer – WWU vs. Sonoma State
2:00 pm: Volleyball – #22 Central Washington vs. Sonoma State
7:00 pm: Volleyball – WWU vs. San Francisco State
Sunday, September 8:
1:00 pm: Women's Soccer – WWU vs. #6 UC-Colorado Springs
FREE PARKING AT HOME EVENTS
Fans can park free at all on-campus events with volleyball parking in the 9G (season ticket holders) and 19G lots and soccer parking in the C lots on south campus. A detailed parking map on campus is available online at wwu.edu/Parking.
Season tickets and single-game tickets are currently on sale online at wwuvikings.com/Tickets and in-person ticket sales begin one hour prior to each contest at box office locations outside Carver Gym and Harrington Field.
If you can't make it to the games to cheer the Vikings on in person, all home events feature a live and free webcast on YouTube and live statistical updates. Points your web browser to the following links. If you have a smart TV, watch the events on your big screen by searching "WWU Athletics" on the YouTube app.
For the second consecutive year, all current WWU students will receive free admission to regular-season home events on campus. Western students will just need to show their current W Card at the entrance to home ticketed contests for volleyball (Carver Gym), men's soccer (Harrington Field), women's soccer (Harrington Field), Men's Basketball (Carver Gym), Women's Basketball (Carver Gym) and Track & Field (Civic Stadium). Paid admission will be required for any conference or NCAA postseason events hosted by WWU. This exciting offer to students is made possible through a collaboration and sponsorship with WECU and The Foundation for WWU & Alumni.
All youth ages 12-and-under can now sign up for the 2024-25 Junior Viking program for just $35 (additional kids are $20) to gain free admission to all Viking home games: soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, cross country, track and field (postseason not included). In addition to free admission, the Junior Viking program gains exclusive access to a monthly newsletter, the chance to meet WWU student-athletes and coaches, a Junior Viking membership card and t-shirt and additional special events including autograph sessions. Registration is available online at WWUVikings.com/JuniorVikings with the yearly membership valid through June 1, 2025.
Western Washington University is a four-year public institution located in Bellingham, Washington, featuring over 300 student-athletes that compete for 15 intercollegiate athletic teams at the NCAA Division II level and in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. WWU Athletics has finished in the top 50 in the NCAA II Learfield Directors' Cup standings in 18 of the last 19 years. WWU's programs have won 13 team national championships, most recently the 2024 women's rowing team and the 2022 women's soccer team. Outside of competition. WWU's student-athletes have compiled an academic success rate at 90% or better in six of the last seven years, earning the NCAA's President's Award for Academic Excellence six times. The 2023-24 season was another banner year for the Vikings, earning the GNAC All-Sports Trophy for the third consecutive year and 15th time overall while capturing 10 conference titles. The women's rowing program won its ninth national title, the softball team reached the College World Series while earning national runner-up honors and the track & field and cross country program swept all six possible GNAC titles. Additional highlights included the women's cross country team winning the West Regional title, the women's basketball team advancing to the NCAA Championships for a fourth consecutive season and softball winning the West Regional title at home on Viking Field.
For more information on WWU's 15 varsity sports programs, visit WWUVikings.com. Fans and alumni can also track all the teams via social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @WWUAthletics.
