May 16, 2011

2011 East Carolina Volleyball Schedule in PDF Format | 2011 East Carolina Volleyball Schedule

GREENVILLE, N.C. - A matchup with 2010 national finalist California as well as 13 home matches await the East Carolina volleyball team in 2011, as its schedule was released by school officials Monday. The slate also features the now annual East Carolina Classic as well as a 20-match league circuit due to the elimination of the Conference USA Tournament last year.

The Pirates serve up the season Aug. 26-27 in Greenville, welcoming Florida Atlantic, Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian to Minges Coliseum for the 2011 East Carolina Classic. ECU will take on the Bulldogs in its opener Friday night before closing out the event the next day. The meeting with the Owls marks the first between the schools.

The next weekend, East Carolina travels north to Charlottesville, Va., for the Jefferson Cup. While in the Commonwealth State, ECU will battle Virginia and Long Island in addition to California. The Bears blew through the NCAA Tournament last season, winning their first five matches 3-0 until dropping a three-set affair to Penn State in the title bout.

Non-conference play continues closer to home Sept. 9-10 as the Pirates head to in-state rival UNC Wilmington's Hanover Hall for the UNCW Beach Bash. Another ACC rival in N.C. State awaits as part of the field which also includes Charleston Southern as well as the host Seahawks.

East Carolina ends the non-league portion of its slate a week later but also begins league play by taking part in the Thunder Invitational. George Mason and Central Michigan, as well as C-USA rival and host Marshall, comprise the Pirates' competition as the contest against the Thundering Herd will serve as the league opener for both squads.

As instituted by the league last season, ECU will play an opponent consecutive days at the same venue on two occasions. This year, the Pirates host Houston for a pair Oct. 8-9 while they will travel to Rice for two contests Nov. 5-6.

As for the remainder of the C-USA schedule, East Carolina travels to Memphis, UAB, UCF, UTEP, SMU, Tulane and Southern Miss while hosting the Tigers, Blazers, Knights, Miners, Green Wave, Golden Eagles and Tulsa.

The 2011 NCAA Tournament first and second rounds are scheduled for Dec. 3-6 at various sites around the nation while the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas hosts the Final Four two weeks later.