Saluki volleyball announces 2015 schedule

By Elizabeth Robinson
SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Saluki volleyball released the team’s 2015 schedule this week, with a string of non-conference tournaments to start the season, followed by stiff competition from Missouri Valley Conference opponents.

This season, SIU will take on nine teams that finished the 2014 season with top-100 RPIs. Four of the nine – Illinois State, Wichita State, Missouri State and Northern Iowa – are MVC teams. The Salukis’ highest ranked competitors this season are Illinois State – last year’s MVC champion – and Western Kentucky, teams that finished at No. 25 and No. 40, respectively.

The Salukis’ 31-match season will open with the UCF/Holiday Inn Express Invitational in Orlando, Fla. There, SIU will face teams from Delaware, Northern Colorado and Central Florida. The Salukis’ season-opener is against Delaware on Friday, Aug. 28, followed by Northern Colorado and Central Florida on Aug. 29.

SIU’s level of competition will increase in the team’s second tournament of the season as the Salukis host the 35th Saluki Invitational. After their 2-1 finish last year, the Salukis will look to defend their home court against No. 56 ranked Dayton, No. 40 Western Kentucky and University of Tennessee-Martin.

High caliber teams will provide more top-level competition as SIU travels to Oklahoma on Sept. 11 for the Tulsa Invitational. Tulsa, the tournament’s host team, finished the 2014 season with a No. 51 RPI. There, the Salukis will also take on No. 65 Arkansas State and Stephen F. Austin.

The Salukis’ final tournament of the regular season will be the Butler Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind. Once again, SIU will take on a top-100 school in Butler, ranked 86 last season. The tournament will also include teams from Missouri and Youngstown State.