HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana volleyball team will participate in three early-season tournaments, including hosting its own Southeastern Lion Classic, as part of the 2012 schedule head coach Geno Frugoli announced Friday.
“The first three weeks are going to be interesting,” Frugoli said. “Opening at Alabama State, we're going to know right away how we'll fair.”
Southeastern will face host Alabama State, Jacksonville State, Tennessee State and South Dakota, Aug. 24-25, during the season opening tournament in Montgomery, Ala.
“South Dakota is not an easy team,” Frugoli said. “Tennessee State and Jacksonville State are up and coming programs. It will allow us a chance to get our feet wet and find out how our freshmen are going to compete.”
The Lady Lions return to the University Center, Aug. 28, for the home opener against Grambling State before traveling to Ohio for the Akron Invitational. Southeastern will face the host Zips as well as Montana State and Quinnipiac, Aug.31-Sept.1.
“This second tournament allows us to go across the country and face different kinds of teams,” Frugoli said. “Montana State and Quinnipiac both have new coaches. I like the setup.”
Southeastern hosts its first tournament since 2005 in the days leading up to the football home opener.
“I'm so thrilled and excited to be hosting our own tournament,” Frugoli said. “We'll have five teams coming in, including one from Utah. All the teams are pretty even so it should be a very competitive tournament.”
The Lady Lions will host Louisiana Tech, Southern, Texas-Pan American and Weber State, Sept. 6-8, with the Southeastern Lion Classic wrapping up before football kicks off that Saturday evening in Strawberry Stadium.
Southeastern rolls right in to Southland Conference play the following week. The conference, using travel partners for ease of scheduling, will go primarily with Thursday and Saturday games in 2012.
The Lady Lions open with McNeese State (Sept. 13) and Lamar (Sept. 15) at home before making their first trip to the newest member of the Southland, Oral Roberts (Sept. 20).
Once conference play begins, Southeastern will have only a pair of non-conference matchups. The Lady Lions travel to Jackson State (Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.) and Texas Southern makes an appearance at the University Center, Nov. 6.
Six of the final nine regular-season matches will be at home with the Texas Southern and Nicholls State contests at the University Center wrapping up the schedule.
“I think the first three weeks we'll be facing even competition,” Frugoli said “I like our odds if we're mentally focused and the tournaments will go a long way toward preparing us for the Southland Conference schedule.”
