BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The CSUB volleyball team will open its 2010 home schedule in a big way Thursday when 13^th-ranked UCLA visits the Icardo Center for a 7 p.m. start.

"It's a great way to start our season at home," says CSUB Head Coach John Price. "We're a young team and this will be a great measuring stick for us. And for volleyball fans, it will be exciting to see a national title contender playing here in Bakersfield."

The Bruins will be the highest-ranked volleyball team ever to play a regular season match in Bakersfield. Although this will be the first regular season home match in volleyball with a team ranked this high, it won't be the first time high-ranked teams have visited the Icardo Center. In its NCAA Division II days, the Roadrunner spring tournament featured many nationally-ranked opponents, including Texas, USC, Cal and UCLA. Thursday's appearance by the Bruins, however, will be on an entirely different level.

"The spring tournaments were more like controlled scrimmages and many teams didn't even bring their full rosters," says Price. "But Thursday match will have an impact on national rankings and, down the road, NCAA Tournament seedings, so I expect UCLA will bring its best game-hopefully that will bring out the best in us-and we will see some great volleyball."

For ticket information contact the CSUB Athletics Ticket Office at (661) 654-2583 or visit the Roadrunners ticket page online at www.GoRunners.com.