Four preseason tournaments featuring opponents from Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten highlight slate for the Buccaneers

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 18, 2014) – Coming off a conference championship season a year ago, ETSU volleyball head coach Lindsey Devine looks to prime the Buccaneers for another title run as she released the 2014 schedule on Friday.

The Bucs, who are coming off consecutive 20-plus win seasons, play in four preseason tournaments – featuring opponents from the Pac-12, ACC and Big 10 – host 10 home matches and take part in a home-and-home Southern Conference slate.

ETSU begins the year with its four tournaments, which includes trips to Charlotte, Fairfax, Va., Nashville and Richmond. The Blue and Gold open the campaign at the Charlotte 49er Classic against Morgan State and Sacramento State – a 10-time NCAA Tournament participant and perennial Big Sky Conference power – on August 29, while taking on the host 49ers on August 30.

From there, the Bucs make the first of two trips to Virginia, as ETSU takes on William and Mary and George Mason on Sept. 5, and Big 10 newcomer Maryland and Patriot League contender Lehigh on Sept. 6 in the Patriot Invitational. Georgia Mason, a seven-time NCAA Tournament selection, is the tournament host in Fairfax.  

The third preseason tournament sends the Blue and Gold to the Music City where ETSU renews its rivalry with Atlantic Sun foe and tournament host, Lipscomb, the weekend of Sept. 12-13. Along with the Bisons, ETSU takes on 2013 NCAA Tournament participant and Pac-12 strength Utah and ACC member Georgia Tech.

Rounding out the Bucs’ tournament schedule is the VCU Invitational as ETSU takes on Mid-American power Ball State, host VCU, and ACC contender Virginia on Sept. 19-20. Ball State has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, while VCU has combined for 51 wins over the last two seasons.

After spending the first month of the season away from Johnson City, the Bucs return home for their home and conference opener on Sept. 23 when the Blue and Gold take on Furman – marking the first of 10 home games inside Brooks Gym. Other ETSU home matches include non-conference games against Radford (a 2014 NCAA Tournament participant) and MTSU – who has made seven all-time trips to the Big Dance – while UNC Greensboro, Wofford, Mercer, The Citadel, Chattanooga, Western Carolina and Samford make conference visits as well.

In addition, the Bucs also make return trips to their conference foes, while the teams will battle for the Southern Conference automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament from Nov. 22-24 in Greensboro, N.C.  

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For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the volleyball page.