Moon Township, Pa. - The  Robert Morris University volleyball team will face its longest season since 2002, competing in 33 regular-season contests, 16 of which will be played at home in the Charles L. Sewall Center. The Colonials will also face one of its toughest schedules to date, taking on teams from the Big 10 and the Big East, while also beginning double round-robin play in the Northeast Conference for the first time in league history. 

The Colonials open up the 2009 season co-hosting the annual Robert Morris/Duquesne Invitational on Aug. 28-29. Robert Morris takes on Loyola (Md.) in its first match of the season at the Sewall Center and faces Bowling Green, Radford and Howard throughout the remainder of the tournament.   

RMU remains home to open up the month of September when it takes on Cleveland State, Sept. 1, before embarking on a three week road trip.

For the first time since 2003, the Colonials travel to University Park, Pa., to take on two-time defending national champion Penn State in the Penn State Tournament, Sept. 4-5. Before taking on the Big 10 powerhouse, Robert Morris will challenge crosstown rival Pittsburgh, Sept. 4. The following day, the Colonials will take on the Nittany Lions and the Buffalo Bulls.

Robert Morris remains on the road the next week to compete against Northern Iowa, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Bowling Green in the Bowling Green Tournament, Sept. 11-12.

The Colonials compete in their final tournament of the season at Kent State, Sept. 18-19. The squad squares off against the tournament host, Sept. 18, and challenges Butler and Utah State the following day.

After nearly a month on the road, the Colonials return home for a seven-match home stretch, which begins with Loyola-Chicago, Sept. 24. Robert Morris welcomes Illinois-Chicago, Sept. 27, before kicking off league play in the month of October.

The Colonials open up NEC competition against Saint Francis (Pa.), Oct. 2, hosts Quinnipiac, Oct. 3, and takes a break from conference play to challenge crosstown rival Duquesne, Oct. 6. The remainder of the season consists of all NEC action and is highlighted with contests against Northeast Conference Tournament champion Long Island, Oct. 24, in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Nov.8 at the Charles L. Sewall Center. 

Robert Morris earned the 2008 Northeast Conference regular-season championship with an undefeated league record last season and finished the year with an overall record of 19-10.