Rooke Releases 2011 Schedule

Click here for the complete 2011 schedule

MACON, Ga. – Three tournaments, eight additional non-conference matches and 13 Atlantic Sun Conference contests comprise the 2011 Mercer volleyball schedule, announced by head coach Noelle Rooke on Wednesday.

“The aim of our scheduling process for this season was to create a suitable non-conference schedule that would compare with our league schedule,” Rooke said.  “We achieved our goal of adding RPI boosting challenges while also giving us an opportunity to gain momentum heading into A-Sun play.”

For the second time in as many years, the Mercer volleyball team prepares for a fall season in which its Atlantic Sun conference schedule has been changed.  Last season, the conference shifted from a home-away format to a single-round of contests, giving the team 10 league matches.

This season, the A-Sun experiments with a divisional system, splitting the league’s 10 teams into north and south divisions.   The divide between the northern and southern factions lands in the geographic center of the conference, grouping Mercer with the southern schools while Kennesaw State joins the northern contingency.

Mercer’s alignment with the southern half of the league means the Bears square off with the four Florida-based teams (Jacksonville, North Florida, Stetson, Florida Gulf Coast) twice this season.  Mercer meets each of the northern division teams (Belmont, Lipscomb, ETSU, USC Upstate, Kennesaw State) just once in 2011.

Seeding and progression of the conference tournament is to remain unchanged, as the six-team field grants the top two teams a first-round bye.  The 2011 A-Sun Championship is scheduled for Nov. 17-19 and is hosted by Lipscomb University.

Aside from 13 conference contests, the Bears also compete at three non-conference tournaments, including the eighth annual Mercer Bear Brawl.  The 2011 version of Mercer’s tournament brings Troy, Tennessee State and Norfolk State to the University Center for the two-day event (Sept. 2-3).

Following the Bear Brawl, Mercer travels to the Georgia Tech Regency Suites Invitational and squares off against the host Yellowjackets, as well as Georgia and Samford.

The season starts with the Winthrop Classic, hosted by the Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C.  Mercer’s first action comes against Davidson before taking on the host Eagles and UNC Wilmington.

Other non-conference clashes include home and away sets with Florida A&M, Chattanooga, Savannah State, and Troy.  A match against Georgia State is scheduled for Sept. 13 at the University Center.