Seattle University head volleyball coach James Finley has announced the Redhawks’ schedule for the 2013 season, which includes six teams that played in the 2012 NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament as well as a 16-match conference slate.
"The staff has worked hard to create a schedule for the 2013 campaign that will adequately challenge our new squad. Our goal for this year is to be a top 50 RPI team, and you have to schedule according to your goals. The 2013 schedule will provide success for the Redhawk program through a higher level of competition. To grow as a team, you need to continually challenge the limits of your team’s skill, athleticism and IQ. Only through this kind of challenge can our team achieve our goal and move beyond it,” said Finley.
Fans will get their first look at the 2013 Seattle U volleyball squad Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Red and White Scrimmage at the Connolly Center. The event, free for all attendees, kicks off at 1:30 p.m. with a pre-match social in the Quiet Exercise Room on the second floor of the Connolly Center, followed by the intrasquad scrimmage at 3 p.m. in the North Court.
The regular season begins for the Redhawks Friday, Aug. 30, at the Wildcat Invitational in Ogden, Utah, where Seattle U will face Big 12 member Texas Tech and host school Weber State. Seattle U’s participation in the tournament concludes Saturday, Aug. 31, against UC Riverside.
Seattle U opens the home schedule on Labor Day, welcoming Eastern Washington to the Connolly Center Monday, Sept. 2, for a 6 p.m. contest. The next night, the Redhawks head to Montlake for the crosstown matchup against perennial national power Washington at Alaska Airlines Arena Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m.
The Redhawks head across the state to Spokane, Wash., for a weekend tournament hosted by Gonzaga, first taking on Pac-12 school and 2012 NCAA Tournament participant Arizona State Friday, Sept. 6. The Redhawks face host Gonzaga and Mountain West program UNLV Saturday, Sept. 7 to conclude the weekend.
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, Seattle U heads south to Eugene, Ore., to face 2012 NCAA title game participant Oregon. The Redhawks head to California for four straight matches, starting Friday, Sept. 13, with a morning match at Long Beach State against 2012 Southern Conference Tournament champion College of Charleston. Later that night, Seattle U faces 2012 postseason participant Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles before returning to Long Beach Saturday, Sept. 14, to face the Long Beach State 49ers. The California trip concludes Tuesday, Sept. 17, at CSU Northridge.
The final non-conference matches find Seattle U heading back over the mountains, this time to Pullman, Wash., for contests against Washington State Friday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. and against Nevada Saturday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m.
For the second straight year, Seattle U opens the Western Athletic Conference portion of the schedule at home, welcoming WAC newcomers CSU Bakersfield (Thursday, Sept. 26) and Utah Valley (Saturday, Sept. 28) to the Connolly Center. Numerous giveaways are planned as the Redhawks look to Cram Connolly to start league play.
Seattle U hits the road for a three-match trip, starting Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Grand Canyon, followed by contests at UT Pan American Friday, Oct. 4, and at defending WAC Tournament champion New Mexico State Sunday, Oct. 6. The Redhawks return home for four straight matches, starting against Idaho Friday, Oct. 11, followed by a rematch against Grand Canyon Monday, Oct. 14, and matches against conference newcomers Chicago State Thursday, Oct. 17, and UMKC Saturday, Oct. 19.
The Redhawks head to CSU Bakersfield Thursday, Oct. 24, and Utah Valley Saturday, Oct. 26, before coming back to the Connolly Center for the final two home matches of the regular season, against UT Pan American Thursday, Oct. 31, and New Mexico State Saturday, Nov. 2. Seattle U ends the regular season with road matches at Idaho (Friday, Nov. 8), at UMKC (Thursday, Nov. 14), and at Chicago State (Saturday, Nov. 16).
The 2013 Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament will be held Nov. 25-27 at Antelope Gymnasium in Phoenix, Ariz., giving the tournament a neutral-site feel as Grand Canyon is not eligible to compete because of the NCAA Division I reclassification process.