ESU Volleyball releases schedule
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 03:02 p.m., June 19, 2008
Updated 03:03 p.m., June 19, 2008
The Emporia State volleyball team won’t have an easy road as it tries to qualify for its third NCAA Tournament in the last four years.
The Hornets, who released their schedule on Wednesday, will play 11 NCAA Tournament teams in their 35-game slate.
ESU opens its year on Aug. 29 at a Nebraska-Omaha Tournament and begins its home season with a Sept. 17 date against defending conference champion Truman. The Bulldogs also knocked the Hornets out of the NCAA Tournament last year.
All 10 of ESU’s home dates will be conference matches. Some home highlights include facing new conference foe Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 1, taking on Washburn on Nov. 14 and facing Fort Hays State on Senior Night on Nov. 15.
ESU, which was 27-9 last year, returns Arica Shepard, Ting Liu and four other starters to this year’s team.
Shepard was an honorable mention All-America selection, while Liu was chosen as the MIAA’s Freshman of the Year.
2008 ESU Volleyball Schedule
Aug. 29-30 — UNO Comfort Inn & Suites/Fire Water Grille Tournament (Opponents: Rockhurst, Mary, Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech)
Sept 5-6 — St. Edward's Tournament (Opponents: TAMU-Kingsville, Southern Arkansas, East Central Okla., St. Edward’s)
Sept. 12-13 — Central Missouri Challenge (Opponents: Edinboro, Southeastern Oklahoma, Minnesota-Moorhead)
Sept. 17 — *TRUMAN
Sept. 19 — *Missouri Western
Sept. 20 — *Northwest Missouri
Sept. 24 — *CENTRAL MISSOURI
Sept. 27 — *Neb.-Omaha
Oct. 3-4 — Lady Blues Fall Classic (Opponents: Central Oklahoma, Midwestern State, UT-Permian Basin, Incarnate Word)
Oct. 7 — *SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
Oct. 10 — *PITTSBURG STATE
Oct. 11 — *MISSOURI SOUTHERN
Oct. 17 — *Washburn
Oct. 18 — *Ft. Hays State
Oct. 22 — *Truman
Oct. 24 — *MISSOURI WESTERN
Oct. 25 — *NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Oct. 29 — *Central Missouri
Nov. 1— *NEB.-OMAHA
Nov. 7 — at *Pittsburg State
Nov. 8 — *Missouri Southern
Nov. 11 — *Southwest Baptist
Nov. 14 — *WASHBURN
Nov. 15 — *FT. HAYS STATE
Nov. 19-22 — NCAA South Central Regional Tournament TBA
Dec. 3-6 — NCAA Elite Eight TBA
* — MIAA opponent
Home matches in CAPS