MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The 2023-24 season is upon us as Western Oregon athletic teams open their seasons this week. We'll preview the week with links to watch and follow along each contest as long as some notes heading into the contests.

HOME EVENTS THIS WEEK

ON THE ROAD ...

NOTES ...

WOLVES WOMEN'S SOCCER OPENS 2023 AT HOME
The WOU women's soccer team looks to get off to a strong start to the 2023 campaign at home as it takes on Stanislaus State (2 p.m. Friday) and Colorado Christian (2 p.m. Sunday) in Monmouth. There will be contests prior to the WOU games with Saint Martin's taking on CCU at 11 a.m. Friday and Stainslaus State 11 a.m. Sunday.

WOU is coming off a 7-6-5 campaign in 2022 and missed the GNAC postseason tournament by a point, finishing fifth in the conference at 4-6-4. The Wolves have been picked to finish fourth in the GNAC this season.

WOU FOOTBALL OPENS 2023 AT DEFENDING FCS CHAMP SOUTH DAKOTA ST.
The WOU football team begins the season at defending FCS national champion South Dakota State 5 p.m. Thursday in Brookings, South Dakota.

The Wolves enter their 18th season under head coach Arne Ferguson after the WOU alum led the team to a 6-5 mark last season, including a 5-4 mark in its first season in the Lone Star Conference to finish third (WOU was picked sixth in this season's preseason poll). While losing a pair of All-Americans on defense (linebacker Jaylin Parnell, safety Joey Sinclair) and the program's all-time leading rusher on offense (Omari Land-Dixon) - the Wolves return numerous key pieces in All-LSC First Team defensive lineman Noa Aluesi, All-LSC Second Team members Tommy McKedy (tackle), Damon Hickok (wide receiver) and Malcolm Liufau (linebacker) along with starting quarterback Gannon Winker.

South Dakota State has won 14 consecutive games since losing it's 2022 season opener at Iowa, 7-3 - including winning its final five games by 21 points or more capped by a 45-21 win over NOrth DAkota State in the FCS Championship Game.

WOU VOLLEYBALL BEGINS YEAR TWO UNDER NAHALE-A AT SSU TOURNAMENT
The Western Oregon volleyball team begins its second year under head coach Kaiao Nahale-a Thursday at the Stanislaus State Tournament in Turlock California. WOU opens the event against host Stanislaus State 5:30 p.m. before taking on Chico State 4:30 p.m. Friday, Academy of Art 9 a.m. Saturday and Fresno Pacific 2 p.m. Saturday.

The Wolves went 9-17 overall last season - the most wins for the program since 2016 - and went 5-13 in GNAC play to finish eighth. WOU was picked eighth in the preseason conference poll with Bailee Hartsook - a 2022 All-GNAC first teamer - being selected to the GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team.

WOU MEN'S SOCCER STARTS 2023 IN HAWAII
The second-year Wolves men's soccer program opens its first season under head coach Michael Behonick against Hawaii Hilo 4 p.m. (PT) Thursday in Honolulu before taking on Hawaii Pacific 9 p.m. Sunday.

The Wolves went 2-13-2 in its inaugural season, including 1-10-1 in GNAC play. The Wolves were picked to finish tied for sixth in the GNAC this upcoming season in the preseason conference poll. WOU returns All-GNAC Second Team performer Abraham Villalobos along with All-GNAC Honorable Mention players Alex Grignon and Juan Suarez.

WOU CROSS COUNTRY BEGINS 2023 AT LINFIELD
The WOU harriers are set to open the 2023 season at the Linfield Open in McMinnville on Friday.

The Wolves, who are in their first season with Zach Holloway as head coach after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach for the program, were both picked in the top five of hte GNAC Preseason Cross Country Polls - the men fourth and the women fifth. WOU will have six female runners and 10 male runners competing Friday.