photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas right side hitter Kelsie Payne (8) gets up for a hit against Texas middle blocker Morgan Johnson (12) during the second set on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 at the Horejsi Center.

The NCAA women’s volleyball Final Four is in Sprint Center, Dec. 14 and 16, so it’s a good year for Kansas to have a roster that has a legitimate shot to make a second run to the sport’s ultimate stage in three years.

A look at key dates on the Horejsi Center schedule:

Sept. 4: Kentucky visits for KU’s home opener. The Wildcats, coming off back-to-back strong recruiting classes, are young but extremley talented and are likely to appear in the preseason top 25.

Sept. 8: Purdue, the second of three opponents in the Kansas Invitational, gives Jayhawks a chance to avenge last season’s four-set loss in West Lafayette.

Sept. 9: Revenge weekend continues with Creighton, the school that bounced KU from the 2016 NCAA tournament in a thrilling match in Horejsi, in for a rematch. Might scalpers holding tickets in the air before this one?

Oct. 11: Texas very well could bring a No. 1 national ranking into this one and will want to pay back Kansas for winning the Big 12 title last season.

Nov. 8: Kansas State visits Horejsi and the rivalry match always brings out the best in the lively crowd.

Nov. 30-Dec. 2: KU likely will serve as host school for first-and-second-round matches in Horejsi.

Dec. 8-9: NCAA Championship Regionals. If Kansas has a strong enough season to merit being one of the host schools for the regionals, Allen Fieldhouse will be availble with basketball games taking place Dec. 6 and 10.

“We have the most competitive home nonconference schedule that we have ever had, paired with challenging lineup of matches away from home,” KU volleyball coach Ray Bechard said. “That jumps out at me initially – the opportunity we have to entertain some really good teams and to make a large footprint on the national stage.”