VCU Volleyball is preparing for another hard-hitting season behind the net as their 2017 schedule was released on Tuesday.
The Rams finished 2016 at 19-14 overall and 8-6 in Atlantic 10 conference play. Head coach Jody Rogers led VCU into the A-10 Tournament for the third time in her 5 year tenure as a #5 seed. VCU made it to the A-10 Semifinals before being eliminated by top seed Dayton 3-2.
2017 for VCU Volleyball features a handful of opponents including four teams that made it to the NCAA tournament last season. Out-of-conference play will be a test for the Rams with Atlantic 10 play looming around the corner.
8/25 – 8/26: Texas A&M Invitational @ College Station, TX
8/25 vs. Texas State
The Bobcats finished 21-12 in 2016.
8/26 vs. Sam Houston State
The Bearkats finished 18-14 in 2016. Sam Houston St. made it to the finals of the Southland Conference tournament as the #3 seed.
8/26 vs. Texas A&M
2016 was a good year for the Aggies as Texas A&M secured a NCAA At-Large Birth. In SEC Play, Texas A&M went 15-3 and finished 21-9 overall. A true Road Warriors type of squad that went 10-3 on the road in 2016.
8/29 vs. William & Mary
VCU defeated the Tribe 3-2 last season in a memorable comeback after trailing William & Mary 2-0. W&M finished 2016 at 8-21 overall and on a 10 match losing streak.
9/1 – 9/2: Bowling Green/Toledo Invitational @ Bowling Green, Ohio
9/1 vs. Notre Dame
In ACC play, the Fighting Irish finished tied for 6th at 13-7. Notre Dame went 22-10 overall.
9/1 vs. Toledo
Toledo finished 2016 at 16-14 overall. The Rockets played Dayton in the Holiday Inn Invitational and was swept 3-0 by the Flyers.
9/2 vs. Southeastern Louisiana
The Lady Lions finished 7-23 overall in 2016. SLU went 3-10 on the road last season.
9/5 at High Point
High Point captured the Big South Tournament title as the #3 seed upsetting #1 Radford 3-1. The Panthers made their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history.
VCU faced off against High Point last season and won 3-1 at the Siegel Center.
9/8 – 9/9: Jefferson Cup @ Charlottesville, VA
9/8 at Virginia
The Cavaliers look to rebound from an abysmal 2016 season; UVA finished the season at 7-25 overall and went 4-16 in ACC play. UVA also finished the season on a 4 match losing skid.
9/9 vs. Ohio
The nine time Mid-American Conference champions fell to #2 Northern Illinois in the MAC Semi-Finals last season. The Bobcats went 16-14 overall and 11-5 in conference play.
9/9 vs. Howard
A dominant season for the Bison was rewarded with the MEAC championship and a NCAA Tournament bid for Howard. The Bison went 26-6 overall in 2016 and 12-0 in conference play.
9/12 at Liberty
VCU scored a 3-1 win over Liberty last season in the VCU Invitational. The Flames went 11-5 in the Big South before being eliminated in the Semi-Finals by High Point.
9/15 – 9/16: VCU Invitational @ Siegel Center
9/15 vs Bowling Green
The Rams looks to avenge last season’s 3-0 sweep by the Falcons in the Hampton Inn Invitational. Bowling Green finished 21-10 last season overall.
9/16 vs Seton Hall
Seton Hall completed 2016 at .500 with a 16-16 overall record and 10-8 in Big East play.
9/17 vs Northwestern
Wildcats aim to their 2016 around in 2017. Northwestern went 10-22 overall and 3-17 in the Big Ten (B1G). The Wildcats went 1-13 against ranked teams last season.
9/22 vs Rhode Island
VCU opens A-10 Play against Rhody who finished in 2nd place with a 12-2 conference record. Rhode Island won the Battle of the Rams last season 3-2 at Siegel Center; Julia Adler led VCU with 12 kills.
9/24 vs Fordham
A 3-0 sweep for VCU against the Rams out of New York happened last season at the Stu. Madalon Simpson recorded 17 digs as VCU won their 4th consecutive match during that stretch in late October.
9/30 at Davidson
Last season’s series between VCU and Davidson resulted in 2 wins for the Black & Gold. The first battle showcased a battle in the 2nd set where VCU pulled away with a 26-24 win that led to a 3-1 victory for the Rams.
10/3 vs Maryland Eastern Shore
The Hawks went 10-2 in MEAC play in 2016. Their season came to an end in the MEAC Semi-Finals vs Florida A&M in a 3-0 defeat. VCU soared over the Hawks 3-1 last season on the road.
10/6 vs Duquesne
Duquesne squeaked by the Rams in the A-10 standings in 2016 to capture the #4 spot. VCU and Duquesne battled twice last season with both teams scoring a victory. VCU’s 3-1 victory came in the A-10 Quarterfinals.
10/8 vs La Salle
2016 was tough on the Explorers during Atlantic 10 play. La Salle finished 1-13 in conference play at the bottom of the table. Alica Kandler shined with 16 digs and 13 kills in VCU’s 3-0 Sweep of La Salle last season.
10/13 at George Washington
VCU will only face the Colonials once in 2017. Last season VCU collected two victories over George Washington in October. GW finished 4-10 in A-10 play a year ago and looks to move up the standings in 2017.
10/20 at Fordham
VCU’s last trip to the Bronx was in 2015 where Fordham collected a 3-0 sweep.
10/22 at Rhode Island
Back in 2015, VCU opened A-10 play on the road at Rhode Island. The home team of Rams got the 3-1 win.
10/27 vs Saint Louis
Those Billikens was VCU’s heel in 2016 with SLU defeating the Rams twice; Saint Louis left Siegel with a 3-1 win and defended home court with a 3-0 sweep. The Billikens finished 11-3 in A-10 play and advanced to the A-10 Finals where they fell to Dayton 3-2.
10/29 vs. Dayton
The reigning Atlantic 10 champions return to Siegel Center for another war against the Rams. Dayton defeated VCU on 3 separate occasions last year as they made way to their 10th A-10 Tournament Championship in school history.
Dayton finished the season at 30-2 overall and went 14-0 in Atlantic 10 play while grabbing an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
11/3 at La Salle
VCU has the upper hand over the Explorers since entering the Atlantic 10. VCU is 6-0 against La Salle since 2012.
11/5 at Duquesne
Last year’s contest at Duquesne resulted in the Dukes winning 3-1. VCU had the advantage after winning Set 1 however Duquesne battled back in Set 2 and edged the Rams by 2 points in Sets 3 and 4. Rebekah Strange led VCU with 18 digs and Vicky Giommarini scored 10 kills.
11/11 vs Davidson
Davidson finished last season at 5-9 in A-10 play and captured the #6 seed for the A-10 Tournament. The Wildcats went 10-19 overall.
11/17 – 11/19: A-10 Tournament @ Pittsburgh, PA
This year’s Atlantic 10 Volleyball Tournament will be hosted at the Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The top 6 teams at the end of A-10 play will battle it out for gold in the Steel City.
VCU is still in search for their first Atlantic 10 Tournament championship.
You can read the official VCU Volleyball schedule release here: http://vcuathletics.com/sports/wvball/2016-17/releases/20170523iymzbk
