University of the District of Columbia Volleyball Announces 2012 Schedule
WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia volleyball team will host the "Firebird Volleyball Classic" on Friday, August 31st through Saturday, September 1st as it opens its 2012 schedule with four matches in two days versus Virginia State, Belmont Abbey, Elizabeth City State and Bowie State.
The Firebirds will begin their 29-match regular season schedule by playing Virginia State in the second match of the tournament at 1:00 p.m. on August 31st. Later, they will take on Belmont Abbey at approximately 5:00 p.m. in the fourth and final match of the day. District of Columbia will return to action the next day at 12:00 p.m. to square off against Elizabeth City, and then will once again play in the nightcap at 6:00 p.m. versus Bowie State. The "Firebird Volleyball Classic," which is to be played at UDC Gym, will consist of six teams (Bowie State, Belmont Abbey, Goldey-Beacom, Elizabeth City State, University of DC and Virginia State) and include a total of 10 matches.
Following the "Firebird Volleyball Classic," the Firebirds will rest six days before travelling to Allendale, Michigan to compete in the Riverfront Hotel Grand Rapids Classic hosted by Grand Valley State. There, they will play the host Lakers at 1:00 p.m. and Lake Superior State at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 7th, and then Wisconsin Parkside at 10:00 a.m. and Notre Dame College at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 8th.
University of DC will then play two more non-conference matches (at Bowie State, 9/11 and vs. Washington Adventist, 9/13) before entering into its East Coast Conference schedule with a visit to Mercy College on Tuesday, September 18th. Another road match at NYIT (an at-large selection in last year's NCAA Tournament) follows on September 20th before the Firebirds return home to host Queens on September 25th and two-time reigning ECC Tournament champion Dowling on September 27th. Then they play three straight road matches at Molloy (10/2), non-conference foe Washington Adventist (10/4) and ECC-newcomer Roberts Wesleyan (10/6) in Rochester, NY.
Following a five day rest, the Firebirds will then host a three-match homestand versus conference foes LIU Post (10/11), reigning NCAA East Regional champion Bridgeport (10/13), and Mercy (10/16). Then, their next three conference matches are on the road at NYIT (10/18), Queens (10/23) and Dowling (10/25), with one non-conference home match vs. Virginia Union on Saturday, October 21st.
After another five day rest, University of DC will host Molloy on October 30th, then play its final non-conference match of the season at Virginia State on November 1st. Roberts Wesleyan makes its first trip to the District of Columbia on November 4th for the Firebirds' final home match, and then University of DC wraps up the regular season with two road matches at LIU Post (11/8) and Bridgeport (11/9).
In addition to the regular season schedule, the Firebirds will also compete in scrimmages at Delaware State (8/18) and versus Northern Virginia Community College (8/23, 7:00 p.m.).
District of Columbia finished the 2011 season with an overall mark of 11-22, including a 2-12 mark in conference play in its inaugural season as a member of the ECC. The ECC sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament last season, including two East Regional semifinalists and the eventual East Region champion.