SFA Announces 2014 Volleyball Schedule
4/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
April 25, 2014
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin Volleyball Coach Debbie Humphreys announced her team’s schedule for the 2014 season on Friday. The Ladyjacks will play three NCAA Tournament teams during nonconference action and have a home stand of six straight matches during league play.
SFA will open the 2014 campaign at the Arkansas Invitational on August 29 against the hosting Razorbacks. The Ladyjacks will also face traditional Big Ten Conference power Michigan and Tennessee State at the tournament.
Arkansas finished the 2013 season 16-13 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Creighton. Michigan lost to LSU in the first round as well going 18-13. The Wolverines reached the NCAA Semifinals two years ago, losing to eventual 2012 NCAA champion Texas.
“The nonconference portion of our schedule was put together to really challenge us prior to the start of Southland Conference play,” Humphreys said. “Arkansas, Michigan, Rice and Louisville will be wonderful opportunities for us against very strong RPI teams.”
After starting the season at Arkansas, the Ladyjacks will play their home opener on September 1 against North Texas. The Mean Green will be making a return trip to Nacogdoches after the Ladyjacks fell on the road to UNT last season.
SFA will then travel to a tournament hosted by South Dakota State on September 5-6. The Ladyjacks will face UMKC, Valparaiso and South Dakota State over the two days before returning home.
The Ladyjacks host Louisiana-Monroe on September 10 then head to the Louisiana Tech Invitational to take on New Orleans, UT-Pan America and the hosting Lady Techsters.
SFA’s final nonconference tournament will be the Rice Invitational on September 19-20. There the Ladyjacks will see Rice, Louisville and Texas Southern. Louisville lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season to Marquette. The Cardinals have been to more than 20 NCAA Tournaments.
“Our nonconference schedule will force us to play our best volleyball if we want to come away with the win, just like we experience in Southland play,” Humphreys said. “The goal is to be in situations that will allow us to grow as a team early on, so we can be playing our best volleyball in October and November.”
Southland Conference play begins on September 25 with a trip to Nicholls and McNeese State on September 27. The Ladyjacks’ first home matches in league play will be against Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word the following week.
This year’s schedule will put the Ladyjacks on their home court for six straight matches in the middle of conference play.
SFA will face Southeastern Louisiana, New Orleans, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Lamar and Southland Conference champion Central Arkansas all in a span from October 16 through November 1.
The Ladyjacks close the season with four straight road matches before the Southland Conference Tournament at Northwestern State on November 21-23.
Humphreys welcomes back her key role players from last season after graduating just two seniors. All-Southland Conference selections Jill Ivy and OJ Olson return. Ivy led the Ladyjacks offensively with 3.02 kills per set and Olson averaged 5.12 digs as the libero. Jacque Allen was the team’s top blocker with 1.13 per set and will be back as well.
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