Volleyball Announces 2016 Schedule

Leathernecks play 15 contests in front of a home crowd

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois head volleyball coach Kelly Richardson announced the 2016 schedule on Wednesday (June 29). The Leathernecks play 32 matches during the 2016 campaign, 15 of which will be played in front of a home crowd.

"We are very excited and anxious to get this season going. This will be a good and competitive preseason that will help us prepare for Summit league play," said Richardson, who is entering her second year at the helm. "We have a young squad again this year, but have a lot players with experience now in key roles. It's an exciting time for Leatherneck volleyball, and we look forward to seeing everyone in the newly renovated Western Hall this fall."

The Purple and Gold open the season at the Milwaukee Pepsi Panther Invitational on Aug. 26-27 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Leathernecks take on Akron and Bradley on the opening day before concluding invitational play on Saturday against hosts Milwaukee.

Western opens the Iowa Tournament on that Friday morning (Sep. 4) against the host Hawkeyes before facing Oakland later that evening. The team finishes competition in Iowa City with a Saturday evening match against Butler.

On Sep. 6, Western plays its first match inside Western Hall against Eastern Illinois.

WIU then hits the road for the Missouri State Mary Jo Wynn Invitational on Sep. 9-10. Play opens on Friday with matches against Green Bay and McNeese State before a final match on Saturday afternoon against Missouri State.

Western then begins its longest home slate of the season, consisting of seven straight matches. Following a match against Chicago State on Sep. 13, WIU plays host to the 2016 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational on Sep. 16-17. The Leathernecks begin the invitational with a Friday night contest against Drake before closing out play on Saturday with matches against Southeast Missouri and Weber State. The next home contest takes place on Sep. 20 against Saint Louis.

The Leathernecks wrap up the home stand with the opening of Summit League play on Sep. 23 against South Dakota and Sep. 25 against Fort Wayne. Western's home league matches also include North Dakota State (Oct. 2), South Dakota State (Oct. 16), Denver (Oct. 23), Oral Roberts (Nov. 1), IUPUI (Nov. 11) and Omaha (Nov. 12).

Western also plays eight away league matches beginning with Omaha (Sept. 27), IUPUI (Sept. 30), Oral Roberts (Oct. 7), Denver (Oct. 9), Fort Wayne (Oct. 21), North Dakota State (Oct. 28), South Dakota (Oct. 29) and South Dakota State (Nov. 5).

During league play, the Leathernecks play in one non-league match against Valparaiso in Macomb on Oct. 4.

A complete 2016 schedule, including match times, can be found HERE.

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