Volleyball Schedule Released for 2009

STATESBORO, GA – The Georgia Southern volleyball coaching staff has announced the 2009 schedule which is highlighted by hosting two tournaments and a Labor Day Weekend trip to Colorado.

“I think our schedule is a great fit for where we are at with our program. I think it presents some unique challenges. I’m excited about having two home tournaments and opening the season at home,” said second year head coach Chad Callihan. “I think we have some very strong competition on the schedule with Ohio State, Auburn and Wake Forest. We are playing a perennial top-25 contender in Colorado State - which should be a very fun trip for us. They historically draw very well in Fort Collins. I think it will give our girls a really unique opportunity to play in front of a packed house and gain some experience in that type of venue.”

The Eagles open the season hosting Presbyterian, Stetson and Troy in the Holiday Inn Invitational, the first of two home tournaments beginning August 28. The two-day tournament will be played in a round-robin style format.

Georgia Southern then travels to Fort Collins, Colorado for its first road tournament of the season. Taking part in the CSU Tournament will be Ohio State, Texas-Arlington and host Colorado State. The Eagles then return home for a Labor Day match on September 7 at Savannah State.

The weekend of September 11, the Eagles will host their second tournament. Georgia Southern will welcome Auburn, Coastal Carolina and Wake Forest to Statesboro for the Bash in the Boro.

The Eagles travel to Charleston on September 16 for a match against Charleston Southern before the Winthrop Tournament in Rock Hill, South Carolina the weekend of September 18. Winthrop will host James Madison and Gardner-Webb to complete the four-team tournament field.

Southern Conference play begins with a three-match road trip for the Eagles beginning September 25 at Wofford, followed by defending SoCon Champion Furman (Sept. 26) and Chattanooga (Oct. 3). Georgia Southern returns home on October 6 for a non-conference match-up against North Florida before hosting three SoCon foes in five days. The Citadel visits Statesboro first on October 9 before College of Charleston (Oct. 10) and Davidson (Oct. 13).

Georgia Southern then takes a trip to North Carolina for Elon (Oct. 17) and UNC Greensboro (Oct. 18), before a four-match stretch at home. The Eagles will see conference opponents Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Furman and Wofford before their final road trip.

The Eagles will visit College of Charleston (Nov. 6), The Citadel (Nov. 7) and Davidson (Nov. 10) before closing out the regular season hosting Samford on November 14 for senior day.

The Southern Conference tournament will take place November 20-22 with the top two seeds in each division making the tournament. The location of the tournament will be determined at a later date.

“I think our conference schedule is as tough as ever. I think it will present some challenges for us with the Southern Conference dropping down to only the top two teams making the tournament,” said Callihan. “Every match is going to be critical as far as making sure we come ready to play each and every evening. We have to make sure we are doing everything we can to position ourselves for postseason play.”

Category: Volleyball

Published on Tuesday, 19 May 2009 14:33