James Finley, head coach of the Seattle University volleyball team, has finalized the Redhawks’ schedule for the 2015 season, which features non-conference matches against teams representing major conferences such as the Pac-12, Big 12, and ACC, as well as a 14-match Western Athletic Conference slate.
"Our team will be excited to play this schedule. We have a tough preseason schedule as always," said Finley. "We believe this schedule will give us the opportunity to challenge our team to play at the top 25 level, which is our goal for the season."
After the annual intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 22, the Redhawks will spend the first five weekends of the season away from home, starting with a tournament hosted by the University of California Aug. 28-29, where Seattle U will face Eastern Washington and Nevada before taking on the host Bears. The following weekend, Seattle U heads across the Washington/Idaho border for the Idaho Volleyball Classic, where the Redhawks will take on Idaho, Washington State, and UC Irvine.
With classes not starting until Sept. 23, the Redhawks will have a chance to explore the Southeast, starting with three matches hosted by Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Seattle U will face Kansas State and VCU on Saturday, Sept. 12, before taking on the host Blue Raiders Monday, Sept. 14. The team heads to Miami, Fla., for the FIU/Miami Challenge, taking on Central Florida and the Miami Hurricanes Thursday, Sept. 17, and Bethune-Cookman and Florida International Friday, Sept. 18.
"This year’s squad will be road tested with our first weeks being on the road. We are excited to have the Connolly Center renovations underway. The dedication and improvement of our team along with the improvement this spring of players such as Jelena Vujcin, Matea Mamic and Kerry Lane will all contribute to the success of our team playing at a higher level in 2015," continued Finley.
The Western Athletic Conference season begins for Seattle U with a match at defending WAC regular season champion Missouri-Kansas City, who the Redhawks defeated in the semifinals of last year’s WAC Tournament, Thursday, Sept. 24. Seattle U ends the month of September with a match at Chicago State Saturday afternoon, Sept. 26.
Due to the ongoing construction at the Connolly Center, Seattle U will play its 2015 home matches at a site to be announced. The Redhawks play their first regular season home match of the season Thursday, Oct. 1, against Grand Canyon, followed by the rematch of last year’s WAC Tournament final against CSU Bakersfield Saturday, Oct. 3. Seattle U returns to the road for matches at Utah Valley Saturday, Oct. 10, at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (formerly Texas-Pan American) Thursday, Oct. 15, and at New Mexico State Saturday, Oct. 17.
Seattle U plays five of its final seven conference matches at home, starting Thursday, Oct. 22, against Chicago State and Saturday, Oct. 24, against Missouri-Kansas City. After a road trip to CSU Bakersfield and Grand Canyon over Halloween weekend, the Redhawks close out the conference slate with home matches against Utah Valley (Saturday, Nov. 7), New Mexico State (Wednesday, Nov. 11 – pending final approval), and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Saturday, Nov. 14).
The 2015 WAC Volleyball Tournament will take place Nov. 19-21 in Kansas City, Mo., on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. If the Redhawks win, they will receive the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, scheduled to begin Dec. 3. No matter what, Seattle U will host Portland in the final match of the regular season Friday, Nov. 27.
The Seattle University volleyball team finished with a winning record within the Western Athletic Conference for the second straight season and advanced to the championship match of the WAC Tournament. The Redhawks will have a solid core of seven returning players, led by First Team All-WAC honoree Martina Samadan, as well as seven newcomers eager to help the team advance to the next level.
"I am proud of the progress this team made this spring. We grew technically and competitively while continuing to develop a strong culture that is producing a higher level of accountability in all phases of our program. With this continued growth, our 2015 schedule will prepare us to make a run for the WAC championship and the NCAA Tournament," added Finley.