July 19, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Second-year head volleyball coach Michelle Durban announced her squad's 2005 schedule Tuesday. The schedule features four non-conference tournaments, including the Bulldogs' own Samford Invitational, and five matches against first-time opponents.

The 2005 slate features a balanced schedule that, while offering a young team several competitive opportunities, also features the possibility of gaining some early-season confidence to carry into a tough conference slate.

"It's hard to begin the school year and juggle academics, practices and a demanding practice schedule," Durban said. "I tried to keep the schedule even this year so the team can stay fresh and focused. Hopefully, as a young team, we can have some success early in the year and we can feed off of that for a good year in conference play."

Samford opens the season August 27 at Troy's Trojan Spiketacular, a tournament that not only features perennial opponent Troy, but also North Florida, an annual Division II power making the jump to Division I and the first of five first-time opponents on the schedule. The following weekend, Samford visits New Orleans to take on host New Orleans, Northwestern State, and first-time foe Prairie View A&M.

On Tuesday, Sept. 6, Samford hosts its first home match of the year, facing off against cross-town rival UAB. Friday, Sept. 9 kicks off the Samford Invitational tournament, featuring first-time opponent Fairfield, Western Carolina, and intra-city rival Birmingham-Southern. The Bulldogs hit the road the next weekend for more tournament action at UNC Asheville, where they will face not only the host team, but Western Carolina for the second straight weekend and Elon for the first time ever.

Samford begins a season-long five-match homestand on Sept. 20 against South Alabama before opening Ohio Valley Conference action three days later against Austin Peay. A five-match road trip begins at first-time opponent Lipscomb on Oct. 4 and ends on Oct. 15 at Eastern Kentucky, a 2004 regular season co-champion in the OVC.

The 'Dogs host UT Martin for Senior Day on Sat., Nov. 5 and finish the regular season at defending regular season co-champion Eastern Illinois on Nov. 12. The OVC Tournament is scheduled to begin Nov. 18 at the site of the regular season champion.

For Samford's full 2005 volleyball schedule, click here.