BYU begins Mountain West Conference action the following Thursday at TCU, looking to dethrone the defending league champion, Horned Frogs. TCU went 8-0 in conference play and then downed Iowa State in the EV1.net Houston Bowl last year.

The Cougars then spend three straight weeks in Provo — an Oct. 7 game against San Diego State, a bye week and then an Oct. 21 contest against UNLV. The latter has beaten BYU the past two games played in Provo by a combined score of 48-23.

Spending the next two weekends on Colorado's Front Range, BYU travels to meet Air Force and Colorado State. Then it's home for another pair — against Wyoming in a Thursday night game on Nov. 9 and then New Mexico on Nov. 18.

BYU closes its regular season by traveling to Salt Lake City to meet Utah on Nov. 25.

BYU women's volleyball

The Cougars begin 2006 participating in a trio of tournaments — at the UCF Fall Invitational in Orlando, Fla.; at its own BYU Molten Classic and then at Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, Kansas.

Then following a road match at Utah State, BYU launches into Mountain West Conference play, with home-and-home pairings against the other eight league opponents.

The Cougars play five matches at home and three on the road in the first half of the MWC season and then start the second half with another pair in Provo, meaning BYU has a home advantage early in the league season but must go on the road for five of its final six Mountain West matches.

Scattered in the Mountain West schedule are several non-conference midweek matches, including a visit to Orem's Utah Valley State and home contests against Weber State and Nevada.

UV women's volleyball

Utah Valley State will take to the road more this year, playing 20 matches away from the Activity Center, including four tournaments. The schedule also features three matches against 2005 NCAA Tournament teams, and five matches against in-state rivals.

The Wolverines will have a target on their backs this year, as they closed last season with an eight-match winning streak on route to the 2005 Division-I Independent Tournament Championship. They will try to defend their title in Fargo, N.D., Nov. 10 and 11.

Utah Valley starts the 2006 campaign off with a bang, opening the year at the Arizona State Tournament against NCAA Tournament team, Loyola Marymount on Aug. 25. The Wolverines will turn around and play Pac-10 power ASU and Northeastern the next day.