TicketsJune 15, 2006
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CINCINNATI, Ohio--Matches against seven NCAA Tournament teams and the BIG EAST Tournament in Fifth Third Arena highlight the 2006 University of Cincinnati volleyball schedule. Of the seven post-season qualifiers, three finished the 2005 season ranked among the nation's top-20.
The highlights of the home schedule include visits from traditional national powerhouse UCLA and BIG EAST front runner Notre Dame. The Bruins come to town as part of the annual State Farm Bearcat Invitational presented by the Vernon Manor on Aug. 27. The visit from the defending BIG EAST Champion Fighting Irish on Oct. 28 highlights a seven-match conference home docket. UCLA finished last season ranked 15th nationally, while BIG EAST members Louisville (11th) and Notre Dame (12th) also finished among the nation's best.
Post-season play comes to Cincinnati for the first time since 1998 as the Bearcats will serve as hosts for the 2006 BIG EAST Tournament. The event, pitting the top-eight teams in the league, will be held Nov. 17-19.
Along with the seven tournament teams and three nationally-ranked squads, the 28 opponents on the Bearcats' schedule held a collective winning percentage of .546 (459-381) during the 2005 season.
The home portion of the schedule will open with the fourth annual State Farm Bearcat Invitational presented by the Vernon Manor, Aug. 25-27. Joining Cincinnati and UCLA in the five-team, three-day tournament will be Maine, Tennessee Tech and Western Michigan.
UC's second trip through the BIG EAST kicks into gear on Sept. 22 when the Bearcats travel to Marquette. UC opens the home portion of the league docket hosting Villanova on Oct. 7. Other home conference matches include visits from Rutgers (Oct. 8), Seton Hall (Oct. 20), Notre Dame (Oct. 28), DePaul (Oct. 29), Georgetown (Nov. 10) and South Florida (Nov. 12).
"We are looking forward to this season against a schedule we feel is very competitive," stated seventh-year head coach Reed Sunahara. "As we learned last year, the BIG EAST will be tough and we've put together a non-conference schedule with quality opponents like Colorado and UCLA that will get us ready for conference play."
Other highlights of the schedule include road match-ups at NCAA Tournament participants Colorado (Sept. 7), Western Kentucky (Sept. 19) and Louisville (Oct. 14). High points on the home non-conference docket include meetings with 2005 NCAA participants and regional rivals Dayton (Oct. 31) and Kentucky (Nov. 24).
UC wrapped up the 2005 season with a record of 20-12 to mark its 11th consecutive 20-win season. A total of eight letterwinners will return from that team.