OPENING SERVE: After beginning the season with a 10-1 overall record, the No. 3 Snow College women's volleyball team will play its home-opener and begin Scenic West Athletic Conference against the College of Southern Idaho and No. 4 Salt Lake Community College.
 
The Badgers faced a loaded non-conference schedule to begin the season.  Six of Snow College's 11 opponents were ranked inside the NJCAA Women's Volleyball Top 20 at the time of their meeting.  The Badgers went 5-1 in those meetings with their only loss coming against Miami Dade College September 9.
 
Snow College earned victories over No. 6 MDC to open the season followed by a victory over No. 2 New Mexico Military Institute September 3.  The Badgers then won three matches against ranked opponents at the Starr Corporation Tournament in Twin Falls, Idaho including No. 13 Missouri State West Plains, No. 20 Monroe College and another win over No. 3 NMMI.
 
The Badgers will open SWAC play against CSI Thursday inside the Horne Activity Center beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a match with SLCC Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
KNOW YOUR FOE: The Golden Eagles are coming off a 2021 season that saw them go 16-12 and 5-5 in conference play.  Their season came to an end in the Region 18 Tournament in a 3-1 loss against Utah State University Eastern.
 
CSI comes into Thursday's matchup with a 9-7 overall record.  Snow College and CSI played the same five opponents at the Starr Corporation Tournament.  While the Badgers went 4-1, the Golden Eagles went 2-3 with wins coming against MC and Western Wyoming Community College.
 
Snow College is 7-17 against the Golden Eagles dating back to 2011.  The Badgers lost 11 consecutive matches between 2013 and 2018, but since then, they have won five out of six meetings with their only loss coming in five-set loss October 7, 2021.
 
SLCC is coming off a 22-6 campaign last season while going 8-2 in SWAC play.  The Bruins defeated by the Badgers in the first round of the Region 18 tournament last season.  
 
This season, the No. 4 Bruins are 15-2 and are currently on a six-game winning streak.  They will open up SWAC play Thursday against the College of Southern Nevada.
 
The Badgers are 14-11 against the Bruins since 2011.  Snow College has owned the edge recently as it has won 12 of its last 13 meetings against the Bruins with its only loss coming in a 3-0 sweep October 9, 2021.
 
LAST TIME OUT: It was a loaded slate of matches for the Badgers as they played five total matches, four of which against teams currently in the NJCAA DI Volleyball Top 20.  Snow College defeated No. 12 Missouri State University-West Plains, Western Wyoming Community College, No. 20 Monroe College, and No. 3 New Mexico Military Institute.
 
The weekend started with a victory of No. 12 MSU-WP Thursday.  Snow College started off winning the first set 25-14 but then lost sets two and three.  The Badgers rallied to take sets four and five, 25-17 and 17-15, respectively to earn the five-set victory.
 
Friday's first of three matches brought a rematch against No. 7 Miami Dade College.  The Badgers defeated the Sharks August 19 in a three-set sweep.  This matchup wouldn't prove as fruitful for Snow College as the last time as MDC turned the tables and handed out a sweep to the Badgers.
 
Snow College would turn around a few hours later and defeat WWCC 3-0.  The Badgers final match Friday was against No. 20 MC.  It was truly a back-and-forth matchup as the Mustangs took sets one and three and the Badgers took sets two and four setting up a winner-take-all set five.  Snow College was able to eke out the set and the win 15-13. 
 
The Badgers final match of the tournament was another rematch from a previous opponent.  Snow College matched up against NMMI, who it defeated September 3.  The Badgers would take sets one and two before dropping the third set by a slim 25-23 margin.  Snow College would rebound and claim set four 25-15.
 
UP NEXT:  The Badgers will head back out onto the road to face No. 6 Utah State University Eastern Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a matchup with Colorado Northwestern Community College Saturday at 1 p.m.  For additional information, visit snowbadgers.com.