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CONWAY, Ark. - Opponents from the Big Ten, Southeastern Conference and Big 12 highlight the 2011 University of Central Arkansas volleyball schedule, first-year head coach David McFatrich announced on Friday. The slate features 28 matches, including four matches against teams ranked in the top 65 in the NCAA RPI.

"We certainly have a very competitive schedule ahead of us this fall, but it is something we need to see how our young squad will measure up," said McFatrich.

The Sugar Bears return nine letterwinners, including five starters, from last year's 28-8 squad that ended the season ranked 68th.

The season will kick off at the University of Houston's tournament Aug. 26-27, where they will face the host Cougars, Atlantic Sun champion #65 Lipscomb, and Atlantic 10 runnerup #61 Xavier. The first weekend of September, the Sugar Bears will travel to Lubbock, Texas to face off against Texas Tech, UNLV and Morehead State.

The toughest weekend of the year will take place on Sept. 9-10 in Oxford, Miss. The Sugar Bears will face #25 Northwestern and #46 Ole Miss, both NCAA Tournament teams last season.

UCA will begin defending their back-to-back Southland Conference regular season titles on Sept. 16 at Northwestern State. While in Natchitoches, the Sugar Bears will also play Arkansas State and Alcorn State.

"It would have been nice to host a tournament during our pre-conference season," McFatrich said, "but that wasn't the hand were dealt this year so we will just make the most of it. In the future, we hope to have at least one tournament before conference begins. We are expecting both Ole Miss and Houston to play here in the next two seasons."

The only other non-conference opponent is Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Lady Lions will come to Conway on Oct. 4 for UCA's first home game. The Sugar Bears will travel to Pine Bluff on Oct. 19.

The first SLC matches in the Prince Center will be on Oct. 5 and 8, when the Sugar Bears will host Northwestern State and UT Arlington, respectively. UTSA, who defeated UCA twice last season, will come to Conway on Oct. 29.

In total, UCA will have nine regular season matches at home and will try to extend the nation's third-longest home winning streak of 30.

Central Arkansas will host the Southland Confernece Tournament on Nov. 18-20 in the Farris Center. The winner of the tournament receives the league's bid to the NCAA Tournament.

CONWAY, Ark. _ First year head volleyball coach David McFatrich today announced the addition of Missouri to the 2011 volleyball schedule. The Tigers, who finished last season ranked No. 22 in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 final poll and advanced to the Sweet 16, will strengthen a non-conference slate that already includes the likes of Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Northwestern. The Sugar Bears have also announced dates for the annual alumni and purple/gray games.

“I wanted to add another match to our schedule this year since we only had 29 before our postseason tournament. Adding Missouri will give us a very good test,” said McFatrich.

The Tigers, who are picked to finish fifth in the Big 12, finished last season with an overall record of 22-11, including a 9-4 mark at the Hearnes Center.

“Missouri has several players with USA national team experience,” said McFatrich. “I really like adding matches like this to our schedule.”

The two teams will meet in Columbia, Missouri on Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

The Sugar Bears will be in live action at the Prince Center for the first time this season on Aug. 20 at 2:30 p.m. for the annual alumni match. This season, the alumni squad will be coached by former UCA football All-American Landon Trusty. Trusty is no stranger to volleyball as he plays in many beach volleyball tournaments throughout the south.

“I asked Landon to coach knowing that his wife, former Sugar Bear volleyball player Erica (Martin) Trusty will be on the team,” said McFatrich. “I told Landon if he doesn’t start his wife, heads will roll.”

In all, eleven former Sugar Bear volleyball players have agreed to take part in the match.

“We’re excited about having our alumni back for this match,” said McFatrich. “It’s always a great time and it seems like the alumni match is getting bigger each year.”

Just two days later on Aug. 22, the Sugar Bears will hit the Prince Center floor again for the Purple/Gray match.

“Our Purple/Gray event is something our players look forward to every year,” said McFatrich. “This match will be competitive and it’s very important because we start our season four days later against Xavier. I hope to have a lot of fans in the stands as our players take this match very seriously.”

This season, the Purple squad will be under the direction of sixth year assistant coach Todd Hay. Meanwhile, first year assistant coach and former All-Southland Conference setter Robyn Smith will lead the Gray team.
All fans are invited to the Prince Center for the annual Alumni and Purple/Gray matches. Admission to each preseason match, as well as all other home matches, is free to the public.