YSU volleyball to open season Friday at Temple

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State volleyball squad will play three in-season tournaments, visit the nationally-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and face a new Horizon League opponent when the 2007 season commences this week under head coach Joe Bonner.

“This is a highly competitive schedule with teams from the Big Ten, Big East, A-10 and the Mid-American Conference,” Bonner said. “Playing those high-caliber teams will hopefully prepare us for Horizon League play, which will be even more challenging with the addition of Valparaiso.”

The Penguins open the season Friday and Saturday with four matches at the Temple Tournament. YSU takes on Lehigh and Temple on Friday, then LaSalle and Rider on Saturday.

A two-day, three-match tournament at Robert Morris University and Duquesne University pits the Penguins against UNC-Greensboro on Aug. 31 and North Dakota State and Robert Morris on Sept. 1.

Meet Buckeyes Sept. 4

The Penguins visit national power Ohio State on Sept. 4 before participating in the Kent State Tournament where they face the Golden Flashes on Sept. 7 and Binghamton and Canisius on Sept. 8.

YSU begins Horizon League play on Sept. 14 at Butler followed by a road match at Wright State on Sept. 15.

The Penguins’ home opener features a Horizon League match against in-state rival Cleveland State on Sept. 21 in Beeghly Center.

Youngstown State and Valparaiso square off for the first time since 2001 on Oct. 3, in Valparaiso, Ind.

The Penguins also play two non-league foes in the midst of the conference slate. YSU hosts Big East member West Virginia on Oct. 23 and Dayton on Nov. 3.

The Horizon League Tournament, hosted by Milwaukee, is slated for Nov. 15-17, in Milwaukee.