Greetings Highlanders Fans!

The fall season has flown by, as both of our Soccer programs earned a berth in their respective Big West Conference Tournaments, Volleyball continues to enjoy one of its best seasons in the last decade, and our Cross Country Teams made a run at their conference championships on our home course before heading to NCAA Regionals.

It wasn't that long ago that we tipped off the year with our Meet A Highlander, Be A Highlander event at Loft 84 (photo gallery), and celebrated the return of all of our student-athletes at our Welcome Back Picnic (photo gallery).

Now we begin to turn our attention to basketball season, and it promises to be a great one. Hopefully you've secured your season tickets by now. If not, please call 951-827-4653. We have a number of new ticketing options this year, particularly for young alumni, and you aren't going to want to miss a minute.

The Women's Team began its 2017-18 campaign at home against LMU before hosting USC of the Pac-12. Head Coach John Margaritis and company also have road games at two other Pac-12 opponents—Stanford (Friday, November 17), and UCLA (Tuesday, November 28)—and a Saturday, December 2 meeting at UNLV of the Mountain West Conference.

Men's Basketball began its season with arguably the biggest victory in the Division I history of the program, beating Pac-12 opponent Cal on the road 74-66.
Portland State is our Homecoming opponent on Saturday, November 18 at 4 pm., and we look forward to celebrating the return of all of our alumni throughout Homecoming Week. Be sure to join us at ScotFest early Saturday afternoon as we send the Men's Basketball Team off to the SRC. The Pep Band and Spirit Squads will be in attendance to rally the troops.

Volleyball also has home matches that weekend on Friday at 7 pm against Cal Poly, and on Saturday at 7:30 pm against UC Santa Barbara. Coach Patton-Cleman and company will celebrate the careers of their seniors immediately following the matcha gainst the Gauchos.

Those of you who have access to Basketball Hospitality will want to be sure to join us after the Homecoming Game as we provide you with an update on our Bears' Den Project, and the roll out to the Nutrition Station component. If you would like to assist with the fundraising efforts for the Bear's Den or take a tour of the facility, and learn more about our vision for the space, please contact Director of Development Krysta Plato at 951-827-6823.
 
As you know, the student-athlete experience is our top priority. Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine & Performance Tony Ontiveros and his crew recently helped put on the fourth annual Highlander Health Fair to educate our student-athletes about the various physical and mental health-related assets that the University provides to the student body (story). Our desire is for our student-athletes to maintain their healthy lifestyles long after their playing days are over.

Strength & Conditioning recently got an upgrade to most of its equipment including brand new dumbbell systems, kettlebells, Aidyne Bikes, Ultraslide slideboards and other materials which will ensure that the Highlanders are competition ready from a physical fitness standpoint.

We have had two jam-packed editions of the "Coaches' Radio Show" so far this season. The most recent was at the new home of the show—Lake Alice Trading Company in downtown Riverside (watch). If you missed either of the first two episodes, don't worry. There are plenty more to come as hosts Pep Fernandez and Geoff Gorham bring an abundance of energy to the Coaches' Show on the first Wednesday of each month (view schedule).

In addition, we debuted "Beyond The Baseline" on Thursday, November 2, prior to the Volleyball Teams match against UC Irvine. "Beyond The Baseline" is a one-hour pregame show hosted in the lobby of the SRC Arena, featuring interviews with coaches, players, corporate partners, and other special guests, which is also hosted by our good friends Pep Fernandez and Geoff Gorham.

In athletics alumni news, Men's Golfer Brendan Steele ('05) won the PGA Tour's Safeway Open for the second straight year back in early October (story), and former UC Riverside pitcher Joe Kelly was credited with the win in the Boston Red Sox Game Three victory over the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series (story).

In all, it has been a wonderful first few months to the 2017-18 season, and I can't wait to see what the winter has in store for us.

I look forward to seeing you at the SRC Arena this year, and until then ...

All The Best, and Go Highlanders!