UAlbany Announces 2010 Volleyball Schedule; Will Play in Clemson & Florida Tournaments

Albany, N.Y. - Four NCAA Tournament participants highlight the 2010 University at Albany volleyball schedule, as head coach MJ Engstrom announced today. The Great Danes, who won last year's America East Conference regular-season crown, will have eight home matches at University Gymnasium and compete in four tournaments on the road.

UAlbany kicks off the season with four consecutive in-season tournaments. The Great Danes first participate at Clemson's Big Orange Bash (Aug. 27-28), taking on the host Tigers, a 2009 NCAA participant, Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville. The following weekend, the Great Danes take on NCAA tournament teams Florida and Colorado State, along with Bowling Green, at the Gators' Campus USA Credit Union Invitational. NCAA participant Middle Tennessee State will host UAlbany and Arkansas in an invitational on Sept. 10 and 11 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Great Danes conclude tournament play at Lamar on Sept. 17-18, as UAlbany squares off against Louisiana-Lafayette, McNeese State and the host Cardinals. UAlbany closes out a 13-match road stretch on Sept. 24 at Yale, before hosting the Bulldogs on Sept. 25 to open up the home slate.

UAlbany begins America East Conference play on Oct. 1, visiting UMBC before hosting new league opponent Providence (Oct. 8) followed by New Hampshire (Oct. 10). The Great Danes have home and home dates with the remaining conference foes, including Stony Brook, Hartford and Binghamton. The rival Bearcats, the defending America East tournament champion, visit University Gymnasium on Oct. 22, while the Seawolves come to the Capital Region on Nov. 14. UAlbany will also host non-conference opponents Colgate (Oct. 6) and visit Virginia Commonwealth (Nov. 26).

In 2009, Engstrom was named the conference's coach of the year after guiding UAlbany to a 22-9 overall record and a second consecutive undefeated conference slate. The Great Danes were the lone undefeated team in the conference and earned the right to host the America East Conference Volleyball Championship for the second straight year.

-agate-

2010 University at Albany Volleyball Schedule

August - 27 (Fri.) Tennessee Tech+, 4 p.m.; 28 (Sat.) Jacksonville+, 12 p.m.; Clemson+, 6 p.m.

September - 3 (Fri.) Florida^, 12:30 p.m.; Colorado State^, 5 p.m.; 4 (Sat.) Bowling Green^, 4 p.m.; 10 (Fri.) UAB<, 4:30 p.m.; 11 (Sat.) Arkansas<, 1 p.m.; Middle Tennessee State<, 5 p.m.; 17 (Fri.) Louisiana-Lafayette#, 5 p.m.; 18 (Sat.) McNeese State#, 11 a.m.; Lamar#, 8 p.m.; 24 (Fri.) at Yale, 7 p.m.; 25 (Sat.) Yale, 7 p.m.

October - 1 (Fri.) at UMBC*, 7 p.m.; 6 (Wed.) Colgate, 7 p.m.; 8 (Fri.) Providence*, 7 p.m.; 10 (Sun.) New Hampshire*, 1 p.m.; 15 (Fri.) at Stony Brook*, 7 p.m.; 17 (Sun.) at Hartford*, 1 p.m.; 22 (Fri.) Binghamton*, 7 p.m.; 24 (Sun.) at Binghamton*, 5 p.m.; 31 (Sun.) UMBC*, 1 p.m.

November - 5 (Fri.) at New Hampshire*, 7 p.m.; 6 (Sat.) at Providence*, 5 p.m.; 12 (Fri.) Hartford*, 7 p.m.; 14 (Sun.) Stony Brook*, 1 p.m.; 26 (Fri.) at Virginia Commonwealth, 2 p.m.

* America East Conference Opponent All Times Eastern

+ Big Orange Bash (Clemson, S.C.)

^ Campus USA Credit Union Invitational (Gainesville, Fla.)

< Middle Tennessee Invitational (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)

# Lamar Tournament (Beaumont, Texas)