GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University Beach Volleyball team will continue a difficult schedule as they face three nationally-ranked teams and another receiving votes in this week's AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Poll, including the hosts in the University of Arizona's Wildcat Spring Challenge in Tucson, Ariz.
 
The Mavericks will begin their 4-game weekend at Bear Down Beach against 17^th ranked Stetson at Noon local time (1 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time) Friday before taking on Arizona State, receiving votes in the national poll, for the third time in eight days at 4 p.m. local (5 p.m. MDT).
 
On Saturday, the Mavericks will face the 15^th ranked hosts at 9:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. MDT) before closing out the weekend against No. 14 California right after 11 a.m. local (Noon MDT).
 
CMU's final three matches against the Pac-12 Conference foes can be seen live on the Pac-12 Network.
 
CMU is coming off a 1-3 weekend against similar level competition in Albuquerque, N.M.   The Mavericks' win came over Abilene Christian last Saturday in what was CMU's all-time win over an NCAA Division I opponent.   CMU swept that match 5-0 and is currently 3-11 on the year.
 
Stetson, which hails from Deland, Florida, is 20-6 overall and a perfect 6-0 in ASUN play.  The Hatters have won nine straight matches.  Friday's competition will mark the first time the teams have faced each other.
 
Arizona State picked up a pair of 5-0 wins last week over the Mavericks in New Mexico and is riding a 5-match winning streak towards and 8-10 overall record. 
 
Arizona is 12-8 on the year and went 3-1 at last weekend's LSU Tournament in Baton Rouge, La.  Their only loss was to the host Tigers, ranked eighth.  The Wildcats are 5-1 at home with their setback coming at the hands of Loyola Marymount on Mar. 3, a team that also defeated CMU.
 
The Mavericks have only faced them once before on Mar. 3, 2016.  The Wildcats, ranked ninth at the time, won that match 5-0 in Tucson.
 
Cal has an impressive 14-3 record and has won 14 of their last 16 with their only losses in that stretch coming to No. 1 UCLA and No. 4 Southern California.  The Bears and Mavericks have not previously met.