Golden Eagle volleyball schedule features some big obstacles in ‘09
Four non-conference foes that reached the NCAA field last season, three tough tournaments to open the year, and an 18-game Ohio Valley Conference slate highlight the schedule awaiting the Tennessee Tech volleyball team in 2009 as the Golden Eagles defend their league title and bid for a return to the NCAA Tournament.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Four non-conference foes that reached
the NCAA field last season, three tough tournaments to open the
year, and an 18-game Ohio Valley Conference slate highlight the
schedule awaiting the Tennessee Tech volleyball team in 2009 as the
Golden Eagles defend their league title and bid for a return to the
NCAA Tournament.
“We’re excited about getting to work this fall and
defending our championship and returning to the NCAA,” said
head coach John Blair. “We will have some significant changes
in our roster from last year and this schedule presents some
interesting challenges, but it also presents some
opportunities.”
Tech opens 2009 with tournaments at Tennessee, Appalachian State
and Louisville. Four of the nine teams in those weekend events
joined Tech last December in the NCAA Tournament.
After the tourney weekends, Tech opens conference play with five
home matches, a schedule that Blair feels can help his squad.
“I think the early part of our schedule will really benefit
this team,” Blair said. “The first tournament (at
Tennessee) comes before classes start, so we can concentrate on our
preseason work, and the additional court time early on will help us
as the season progresses.”
Tech kicks off the 2009 season with three matches in Knoxville,
Aug. 29-30, at the Lady Vol Invitational. Tech will meet host
Tennessee, plus Lipscomb and Western Kentucky. Both UT and WKU were
in the NCAA field last winter with Tech.
“This is a huge tournament,” Blair said. “Three
of the teams went to post-season play and Lipscomb is picked to win
their conference this year. It’s a very challenging way to
start the season, and we play three quality opponents.”
Tech’s second weekend finds the Golden Eagles in Boone,
N.C., Sept. 4-5, for the Appalachian State Invitational. Joining
Tech and Appalachian State will be William & Mary and North
Florida.
“William & Mary is the preseason pick to win the
Colonial Athletic Conference,” Blair said. “I expect
Appalachian State to be good. We’ve played them before, but
they have a new coach, a past colleague of mine, so we really
won’t know what to expect.”
The ASU Mountaineers will be coached by Matt Ginipro, who was an
assistant coach under Blair at Ole Miss.
The third weekend also features three NCAA tournament teams in the
four-team field when Tech plays in the Louisville Invitational,
Sept. 11-12. In addition to Tech and Louisville, Liberty plays in
the UL event after advancing to NCAA play last year. Cleveland
State rounds out the field.
“We’ve played in the gym at Louisville each of the
last three years,” Blair said. “It’s an important
tournament for us. It’s the last tune up before beginning
conference play.
“Louisville is the defending champion in the Big East
Conference and they always have a strong international roster,
Liberty won the Big South, and Cleveland State will be
strong,” he said.
The league schedule opens Sept.18-19 when Tech hosts Southeast
Missouri and Eastern Illinois. The Golden Eagles also host
Jacksonville State, UT Martin and Murray State while playing five
OVC home contests during a nine-day stretch.
That’s followed with seven of the next 10 on the road, with
Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State – last year’s
regular season co-champions along with Tech – making visits
to Eblen Center, Oct. 16-17.
After hosting Tennessee State and Austin Peay on Nov. 6-7, Tech
closes the regular season Nov. 13-14 with road contests at Morehead
Sate and EKU.
The OVC tournament, which Tech hosted and won last year, will be
held Nov. 19-23, at the site of the regular season champion. The
winner advances to the NCAA Tournament.
Admission to all home regular season volleyball matches in Eblen
Center is free.
