2010 Volleyball Schedule
High Point University head volleyball coach Jason Oliver announced the Panther’s 2010 schedule on Monday. HPU’s 12 home matches this season will include the 2010 High Point University Classic at the Millis Center to open the season.
In Oliver’s second season the Panthers will travel to Marshall, Arizona State and Davidson for non-conference tournaments before beginning Big South Conference play on Sept. 24 at Winthrop University.
“This is a schedule that will force us to bring a championship type effort every night,” Oliver said. “If we let up at all we will have a tough road. I view this schedule as a real challenge for our team. To make it through the non-conference trips and the demanding Big South Conference schedule we will have to be tough. It will be a true test of our mental and physical ability. I expect our team bring it every night and play an exciting style of volleyball that will give us a chance against anyone.”
The High Point University Classic will be held Aug. 27-28 in the Millis Center with Appalachian State, UNC Wilmington and North Carolina A&T making the trip to High Point, N.C. This is the second consecutive year the Panthers will host the tournament.
HPU will play in the Thunder Invitational Tourney hosted by Marshall in Huntington, W.V. on Sept. 3-4. The Panthers will face Cleveland State and Hofstra as well as host, Marshall.
At the Arizona State Tournament in Tempe Ariz., High Point will face the Sun Devils as well as UC Riverside and Utah Valley State. The tournament will be held on Sept. 10-11.
The final non-conference tournament will be held at Davidson College, with Eastern Michigan and Boise State taking part on Sept. 17-18.
The Panthers will begin Big South Conference action on Sept. 24 with a weekend trip to Winthrop University and Charleston Southern University. Liberty will come to the Millis Center for the Panther’s first home Big South match on Tuesday Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.
Defending Big South Champion Coastal Carolina will come to the Millis Center on Nov. 13 for the final game of the regular season.
The 2010 Big South Conference Tournament will be hosted by Winthrop University Nov. 18-20 in Rock Hill, S.C.
The Panthers return 11 players from last season including All-Conference libero Julie Hershkowitz and All-Freshman Team honoree Courtney Johnk. The Panthers also return Audie Gonzalez who was an All-Big South second team selection in 2007 and 2008 before missing last season with an injury. HPU finished the 2009 season with a 17-17 record, ending the season with a 2-3 loss in the quarterfinals of the Big South tournament to eventual champion Coastal Carolina.