Orange Volleyball Schedule Set for 2008

2008 Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse volleyball schedule is set for the 2008 season, announced 14^th-year head coach Jing Pu Thursday. In addition to the Orange’s BIG EAST slate, the Syracuse non-conference schedule features seven NCAA participants, five conference champions and eight squads that posted 20 or more wins in 2007.

The Orange begins the 2008 season on August 29-30 at the Clemson University Tournament. The host Tigers tallied a 29-4 record in 2007, advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after collecting the Atlantic Coast Conference crown and finished the season ranked No. 22. Syracuse joins Big South Conference foe Charleston Southern (10-21 in 2007) and Sun Belt Conference affiliate Florida International (19-8) in Clemson, S.C.

Syracuse returns to the northeast region the following weekend, September 5-6, but remains on the road at the University of Delaware Tournament. The Blue Hens claimed the Colonial Athletic Association championship and advanced to the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in 2007 with a 31-5 overall record.

The Orange will meet its first of seven 2007 opponents in New Hampshire (19-9) at Delaware. Syracuse suffered a 3-2 setback against the Wildcats a year ago. Michigan State, who posted a 21-14 record and advanced to the NCAA Regional last season, is the third of three teams visiting Newark, Del.

SU welcomes Siena (24-8), Ohio (26-6) and Army (24-5) to Manley Field House for the 2008 Big Orange Tournament on September 12-14. Siena captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship last season, while Ohio and Army advanced to the Mid-American Conference championship and Patriot League semifinals, respectively. The Bobcats’, ranked No. 24 at the conclusion of 2007, ended their season after a 3-1 loss against Purdue in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Syracuse concludes its non-conference tournament schedule at in-state foe Colgate on September 19-20. The host Raiders finished 17-14 in 2007 and advanced to the Patriot League championship. Princeton (21-4), which won the Ivy League crown a year ago, completes the field in Hamilton, N.Y. The Orange tallied 3-1 and 3-2 victories against Colgate and Princeton in 2007, respectively.

The Orange’s non-conference slate also includes hosting Binghamton (16-18) on September 9 and Niagara (8-19) on October 14. Syracuse claimed a 3-0 win at the Bearcats last season and owns an 11-0 all-time record against the Purple Eagles dating back to 1992.

Syracuse completes its non-conference road schedule at Cornell (10-15) on September 23, at Long Island (23-14) on September 27 and at Siena on October 21.

SU opens the 2008 BIG EAST campaign with four of its first six matches away from the Salt City, including the conference opener on September 28 at Rutgers. The Orange heads south to Georgetown on October 10 and to South Florida on October 12 before revisiting Marquette, the site of the 2007 BIG EAST Tournament, on October 18.

The Orange hosts rival Connecticut on October 3 before welcoming defending conference champion and NCAA Regional finalist St. John’s on October 5. The Red Storm ended last season with a No. 9 ranking.

Syracuse entertains Cincinnati and Louisville on October 24 and 26, respectively. The Bearcats finished 19-12 in 2007, while the Cardinals earned an invitation to the NCAA Tournament after advancing to the BIG EAST championship game. Louisville boasted a 22-8 overall mark and finished the season ranked No. 25 nationally.

The Orange’s conference slate closes with four of the final six contests on the road, beginning with Notre Dame on November 1. Syracuse ends the regular season at home against Pittsburgh on November 14 and versus West Virginia on November 16.

Syracuse finished the 2007 season with a 21-13 overall record, returning to the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since the 2005 season.

Syracuse University Athletics

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