Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Volleyball Team: Islanders Announce Challenging 2011 Volleyball Schedule
The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi volleyball team will look to continue its improvement under head coach Tony Graystone with a challenging slate in 2011 after releasing its schedule on Monday afternoon.
The Islanders will take part in four tournaments, including hosting the Islanders Classic on Sept. 9-10. The team starts off the year at the Sam Houston State Invitational, playing Rutgers on Aug. 26 in the season-opening match before taking on UT Pan American and Southland rival Sam Houston State on Aug. 27.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi then plays four matches at the Valparaiso Marriott Volley Brawl Tournament in Valparaiso, Ind., the following week. On Sept. 2, they will take on Evansville and Murray State while finishing play on Sept. 3 against host Valpo followed by Ball State.
With seven road matches to start the season, the Islanders finally open their home schedule on Sept. 9-10 with the Islanders Classic. They will host three teams in the two-day event with the home team playing one match on the first day and a pair of matches to close out the tournament.
After a single road match on Sept. 13 against UTPA, the Islanders travel to Charleston, S.C., for the College of Charleston Tournament. On Sept. 16, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi will play North Florida and College of Charleston while closing out the tournament on Sept. 17 against UNC – Wilmington and Wyoming.
“We added matches from last year’s schedule and are also playing outside of our region a lot more,” said Head Coach Tony Graystone. “It is a lot better RPI-wise compared to the last couple of seasons.
“We have a tougher schedule and a little more travel. But it is important for us to have a strong showing before we get into conference play and I think this is the best way to do it.”
The team starts Southland Conference play on Sept. 22 with a road match at UT Arlington, followed by a Sept. 24 match in San Marcos at Texas State.
With its second seven-match road trip out of the way, the Islanders get the next three conference opponents at home with matches against Stephen F. Austin (Sept. 29), SHSU (Oct. 1) and UTSA (Oct. 4) at the Dugan Wellness Center.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi travels for a non-conference match on Oct. 6 against Houston Baptist before a tilt against Southland foe Lamar on Oct. 8 in Beaumont. The team plays another non-conference opponent on the return trip with an Oct. 9 match at Prairie View A&M.
Nicholls (Oct. 13) and Southeastern Louisiana (Oct. 15) make the trip to Corpus Christi for a pair of Southland matches before North Dakota (Oct. 16) plays at Dugan in the final non-conference match of the year.
“In total, we play four to six teams that were right around the Top 100 RPI from last year,” said Graystone. “That’s a big shift over the last couple of seasons.”
“We’re playing some really nice competition, but I think our team will be ready for that and be really competitive.”
The Islanders then finish the year with five-of-eight matches on the road in conference play. After an Oct. 19 match on the road at UTSA in San Antonio, the team returns to Dugan on Oct. 22 for a match against McNeese State.
Four-straight road matches are up next for Texas A&M – Corpus Christi as it faces Central Arkansas (Oct. 27), Northwestern State (Nov. 3), SFA (Nov. 3) and SHSU (Nov. 5) before returning home for the final two matches of the season.
UTA travels to Dugan to face the Islanders on Nov. 10 before Senior Day on Nov. 12 against Texas State.
This year’s Southland Conference Tournament will be hosted in Conway, Ark., by defending regular-season champion UCA. The event is scheduled for Nov. 18-20 with the top eight teams from the league getting an invite.
