photo by: Kyle Babson

KU volleyball plays its first match in the newly renovated Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena against Morehead State Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019.

On the day the Kansas volleyball season originally was slated to start, the Jayhawks finally were able to release their pandemic shortened 2020 calendar.

Instead of opening their season in late August with nonconference matchups, KU will play a Big 12-only schedule that begins the last weekend of September.

The Jayhawks will face every team in the conference twice, but instead of Big 12 volleyball teams playing both home and away matches, league administrators streamlined the process. Both matchups will take place on back to back days in the same venue.

KU’s season is set to begin on its home floor at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena, Sept. 25 versus Baylor. The Jayhawks and Bears will clash again the following afternoon.

In a statement accompanying a KU release on the schedule, head coach Ray Bechard noted another unique aspect of the 2020 season is that the NCAA granted a blanket waiver for all fall athletes that allows them to play any number of games this season without losing a year of eligibility.

Bechard called it “a perfect scenario” for KU’s program.

“We are very appreciative of the efforts of our administration and staff for creating an environment which places protocols and safety first, allowing our team to best realize the student-athlete experience under our current conditions,” Bechard added.

KU will play host to four Big 12 opponents — BU, West Virginia, Kansas State and Texas Tech — and face its other four conference foes — Texas, Oklahoma, TCU and Iowa State — on the road.

The Jayhawks’ Big 12 schedule concludes Nov. 19 and 20 versus Texas Tech.

The NCAA plans to have Division I fall sports national championships in the spring.

KU volleyball 2020 schedule

Sept. 25 — Baylor

Sept. 26 — Baylor

Oct. 1 — at Texas

Oct. 2 — at Texas

Oct. 9 — West Virginia

Oct. 10 — West Virginia

Oct. 16 — at Oklahoma

Oct. 17 — at Oklahoma

Oct. 22 — at TCU

Oct. 23 — at TCU

Oct. 29 — Kansas State

Oct. 30 — Kansas State

Nov. 13 — at Iowa State

Nov. 14 — at Iowa State

Nov. 19 — Texas Tech

Nov. 20 — Texas Tech