UNCG announces 2006 volleyball schedule

GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro women’s volleyball coach Shawn Garus announced his 2006 schedule Thursday, featuring 11 home matches and three in-state tournaments.

The Spartans will open play at the UNC Wilmington Tournament on Friday, August 25 in Wilmington. The two-day event will see UNCG take on Tennessee-Martin, new Division I member Winston-Salem State and the host Seahawks.

Garus’ club will also take part in the UNC Asheville Tournament on September 1-2 in Asheville. The Spartans will play former league foe East Tennessee State, Cleveland State and the host Bulldogs.

The following weekend, Garus will take UNCG to the Gardner-Webb Tournament on September 8-9 in Boiling Springs. The Spartans will face Robert Morris, North Carolina Central and the host Bulldogs over the two days.

The home slate begins at Fleming Gym on September 5 against local rival High Point at 7 pm. Later in the season, the Spartans will also host non-conference foe Liberty on October 10. UNCG also steps out of conference to visit Campbell on August 29 and plays at cross-town rival North Carolina A&T on October 31.

The Southern Conference portion of the schedule features nine home-and-home dates that makes up the 18-game league slate. Wofford visits Greensboro on September 19 for the Spartans home conference opener.

The SoCon Tournament is scheduled for November 16-19 in Boone, NC hosted by Appalachian State.

“We have created a balanced schedule that will both challenge our club and give us the opportunity to go out and win some of these matches,” said Garus, who begins his second year at the helm of the program. “We hope our early season tournaments and non-conference matches will prepare our young club for the tough SoCon schedule.”

UNCG returns three starters from the 2005 club that finished 5-26. Senior Hillary Overby led the Spartans one year ago with 3.11 kills and was second on the team with 2.59 digs per game. Junior Lauren Keiser enjoyed a stead 2005 campaign with 2.10 kills and 2.08 digs per game, while sophomore Kaitlyn Nortz had a fine first season with the Spartans. The Westerville, OH product led the club with 1.05 blocks, while chipping in with 2.33 kills per game.

- UNCG -