TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team has released its 2023 schedule looking for its fifth consecutive Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) title after a historic season.
 
The Tigers are coming off a 29-2 season with a 15-1 conference record, winning its fourth straight CAA Championship after a 16-0 record at SECU Arena. The Black & Gold appeared in their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament and earned the number eight seed for the first time in program history.
 
Towson returns six starters including Victoria Barrett, a First Team All-CAA and American Volleyball Coach Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable who led the Tigers in kills and kills per set. First Team All-CAA outside hitter Nina Cajic returns for her senior season after leading the CAA in hit percentage. Aayinde Smith earned all-conference honors last season after ranking second on the team in total blocks and third in the CAA. Defensive specialist Rachel Hess returns for her fifth year as well as CAA All-Rookie setter Sarah Jordan and outside hitter Irbe Lazda.
 
Towson brought in Baltimore native Zyare Abdul-Rahim who played the last three seasons as Hofstra. She accumulated 571 kills, 142 blocks and was named to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll three times. Abdul-Rahim is coming off a career year at Hofstra, where she was named First Team All-CAA.
 
The Tigers start the season with a trip down to Columbia, South Carolina to play the University of South Carolina for a pair of matches on Aug. 25 & 26.
 
Towson travels down the road to play Morgan State to start the Towson Invitational on Aug. 31. The Black & Gold host Northeast Conference champion Fairleigh Dickinson at SECU Arena on Sept. 1. The Tigers continue the Towson Invitational with a doubleheader on September 2 against Dartmouth and Temple. The Towson Invitational wraps up on Sept. 3 against Rider.
 
The Tigers head to Pullman, Washington for the Washington State Invitational on Sept. 7 & 8. Towson plays both BYU and Washington State on day one, both were ranked inside the Top 25 last season. The Tigers wrap with UC Irvine on the eighth.
 
CAA play starts against Hampton on Sept. 16 & 17, then the Black & Gold return to SECU Arena to face rivals Delaware on Sept. 22 & 24. Towson will travel to Hempstead, New York to face Hofstra on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
 
Towson welcomes CAA newcomers Campbell on Oct. 7 & 8, then visit UNCW on Oct. 14 & 15. The following weekend, the Tigers host Stony Brook on Oct. 21 & 22. The Black & Gold wraps up October with a trip to Greensboro to play North Carolina A&T on Oct. 28 & 29.
 
The Tigers start November with a pair of home matches against Elon on Nov. 4 & 5, then close out the regular season with a trip to Boston to face Northeastern on Nov. 11 & 12.
 
Towson will host the CAA Championship at SECU Arena for the fourth straight year from Nov. 16th- Nov. 18th.
 
Volleyball season tickets are on sale now: season ticket prices start at $40, while single-game tickets start at $10. For season ticket holder benefits, visit here. Interested parties can visit www.towsontigers.com, call 410-704-4501 or email dkogok@towson.edu/wfisher@towson.edu.