Schedule announced for 2010 season

FAYETTEVILLE – Six matches against teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament and 14 home dates at Barnhill Arena highlight the 2010 University of Arkansas volleyball schedule. Including the season-opening Arkansas Invitational, the Razorbacks’ schedule features three non-conference tournaments, a pair of matchups against regional opponents and the 20-match Southeastern Conference slate.

"This schedule sets up very well for us to make a push for postseason play," head coach Robert Pulliza said. "Our non-conference schedule is built to prepare us for the SEC season which is tough every year.

"Both Oklahoma and Middle Tennessee State advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year. Everyone knows how good the SEC is and how tough each opponent can be. There are no easy matches in conference play. Our goal is to be a better team by the end of the regular season than we are in August and this schedule will help us do that."

The Razorbacks open the 2010 season against UMKC on day one of the Arkansas Invitational, which will be played Aug. 27-28 at Barnhill Arena. The non-conference event will also feature Grambling State and Samford. In Arkansas’ only other non-conference home date, the Hogs will host Oklahoma on Sept. 7. The two regional foes last met during the 2006 season.

Arkansas’ road slate begins with an Aug. 31 midweek match in Tulsa, Okla., at Oral Roberts. The Razorbacks will then travel to Lawrence, Kan., to take part in the Sept. 3-4 Jayhawk Classic. In addition to the host Jayhawks, Arkansas will also play Tennessee-Chattanooga and Akron. The Hogs will close out their non-conference schedule Sept. 10-11 at the Middle Tennessee Invitational with matches against Middle Tennessee, Albany and UAB.

Conference play begins with a pair of home matches for Arkansas. The Razorbacks open SEC action Sept. 17 against Georgia and round out the weekend against Auburn. The next two conference weekends will be spent on the road against Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina and Florida. Arkansas returns home Oct. 8 to face Tennessee, followed up by an Oct. 10 matchup against Kentucky.

For the third time during the season, Arkansas will face four-consecutive road matches. A midweek contest takes the Hogs to Baton Rouge, La., on Oct. 13 to face defending SEC champion LSU. Arkansas closes out the first round of conference play Oct. 17 at Ole Miss before road tests at Auburn and Georgia.

The Razorbacks begin a three-match home stand with an Oct. 29 matchup against Alabama. Arkansas will then host Mississippi State and Ole Miss. After a road weekend at Kentucky and Tennessee, the Hogs close out the regular season with three matches at Barnhill Arena. The Razorbacks welcome perennial power Florida on Nov. 19 and wrap the weekend against South Carolina. The Nov. 24 regular-season finale will pit Arkansas against LSU.

The postseason begins during the first weekend of December with the first and second rounds of the 2010 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship. The regional round of the national tournament will be held Dec. 10-11 at the four predetermined sites-Austin, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; Seattle, Wash.; and University Park, Pa. the 2010 volleyball season will commence Dec. 16 and 18 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Download: 2010 fall schedule.pdf