Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's volleyball team will get familiar with the road during the 2010 season as it will play 20 of its 34 matches away from its home gym, the Charles L. Sewall Center. The Colonials' schedule features teams from the Big 10, the Big East and the Pac 10 while also playing its second season of double round-robin competition within the Northeast Conference.
Robert Morris will once again open the season by co-hosting the annual Robert Morris / Duquesne Invitational, August 27-28. The Colonials take on Radford in their first match of the season Friday, August 27 at 11:00 a.m. inside the Sewall Center in what will be the inaugural match as RMU head coach for first-year mentor Dale Starr. RMU will also face Montana State, Lehigh and Morgan State throughout the remainder of the tournament.
After co-hosting its opening tournament, RMU will hit the road for the entire month of September, beginning with the Ball State Tournament, Sept. 3-4. The Colonials open the tournament by facing Oakland (Mich.) Friday, Sept. 3, before playing two contests Saturday, Sept. 4, against the hosts, Ball State, and Tennessee State.
The following weekend will see Robert Morris head north to take part in the Canisius / Niagara Tournament. The Colonials will take on Indiana and host Canisius Friday, Sept. 10, before matching up with Bucknell and Colgate, Sept. 11.
RMU will then play its next five contests within the city limits of Pittsburgh. The Colonials will travel to Duquesne Tuesday, Sept. 14, before taking part in the Pitt Blue and Gold Tournament, Sept. 17-18. Robert Morris will play Eastern Illinois and host Pittsburgh on the tournament's first day before meeting Washington, a 2009 NCAA Tournament team, and Bowling Green to close the tournament.
With 16 non-conference matches under their belt, the Colonials will commence with NEC play as they travel to New York, Sept. 25-26. The team will open its conference slate against 2009 NEC Tournament champion Long Island Saturday, Sept. 25, before facing St. Francis (N.Y.) the following afternoon.
After a non-conference matchup at Cleveland State Tuesday, Sept. 28, the Colonials finally return to the Sewall Center for their first NEC home contests against Bryant and Central Connecticut State Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, respectively.
Robert Morris will continue to play NEC competition throughout the month of October, with the lone exception being another trip to play crosstown rival Pittsburgh Tuesday, Oct. 19. Robert Morris will play three of its final four matches at home, including its regular-season finale against Farleigh Dickinson Saturday, Nov. 13.
Robert Morris will be seeking to extend its streak of qualifying for 11 consecutive Northeast Conference Tournaments, the longest current stretch in the conference. The NEC Tournament will begin Saturday, Nov. 20.
