PHILADELPHIA - First-year volleyball head coach
Caitlin Rimgaila has announced the 2014 schedule, which kicks off with the La Salle Invitational on August 29.
The schedule features 17 nonconference matchups along with a 14-game Atlantic 10 slate.
"This year, we have a very well-balanced schedule of teams," Rimgaila said. "As we look to build our competitiveness in the Atlantic 10, our pre-season competitions offer us the opportunity to be successful, yet also provide real challenges. I look forward to continuing our development from the spring season, and staying fairly close to home will enable the team to keep a good balance between volleyball and their academic pursuits."
The Explorers host NJIT, Coppin State, Manhattan and Loyola (Md.) in the annual La Salle Invitational on Aug. 29-30. The squad will open with Manhattan at 1 p.m. on Aug. 29 along with NJIT later that night at 7:30. The Explorers will square off against Coppin State (9 a.m.) and Loyola (Md.) (7 p.m.) on the second day of the round-robin tournament.
The team will also compete in three other in-season tournaments, including the Towson Invitational on Sept. 5-6 (Coppin State, Saint Peter's, Towson), Iona Tournament on Sept. 12-13 (Hartford, Bryant, Iona) and the Big 5 Tournament on Sept. 19-20 (Temple, Penn, Villanova). The Explorers are also scheduled for single games against Howard and Rider at Tom Gola Arena, and at Delaware State and Rimgaila's alma mater St. John's.
The Atlantic 10 portion of the schedule opens on Sept. 26 when the Explorers host Saint Louis. The A-10 schedule features home-and-homes against Saint Louis, Dayton, Rhode Island, Fordham and Duquesne, along with one game each against VCU, Davidson, George Washington and George Mason.
The 2014 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Championship will be held Nov. 21-23 at Dayton.
