Courtesy: Georgia Athletics
ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia head volleyball coach Tom Black has announced the Bulldogs’ schedule for the upcoming 2018 season, his second guiding the program.
“Our 2018 schedule offers a challenging preseason to help prepare us for SEC play,” Black remarked. “We’re excited for it and can’t wait to get going with our team this Fall. The home match environment in Stegemen Coliseum will be incredible and one you won’t want to miss.”
The 29-match schedule will feature 12 contests in Athens, set to be played in Stegeman Coliseum. The Bulldogs will open the 2018 campaign in Athens Aug. 24-25 with the Benson Invitational featuring Coastal Carolina, Furman, and Illinois State. The Southeastern Conference season begins at Stegeman on Sept. 21 when Georgia hosts LSU. Other SEC foes set to trek to Athens includes South Carolina (Sept. 30), Texas A&M (Oct. 14), Kentucky (Oct. 26), Tennessee (Oct. 28), Auburn (Nov. 15), national runners-up Florida (Nov. 18), Arkansas (Nov. 21), and Mississippi State (Nov. 23). Georgia will conclude the regular season with four-straight matches at home beginning Nov. 15 against Auburn.
Georgia will play in three other tournaments to begin the season. Following the Benson Invitational, the Bulldogs will head west for tournaments at UC Irvine (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) and Colorado (Sept. 7-9). In the Irvine tournament, Georgia will face Texas Tech, UC Irvine, and Cal State Bakersfield. In Boulder, the Bulldogs will take on hosts Colorado, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. Tournament action will conclude with two matches in Atlanta (Sept. 14-15) against rival Georgia Tech and North Carolina State.
Road SEC contests feature trips to Texas A&M (Sept. 23), Ole Miss (Sept. 28), Auburn (Oct. 3), Florida (Oct. 7), LSU (Oct. 10), South Carolina (Oct. 21), Alabama (Nov. 2), Arkansas (Nov. 9), and Missouri (Nov. 11).
The 2018 schedule features four teams that finished in the AVCA final top 25: #2 Florida, #6 Kentucky, #19 Colorado, and #20 Missouri. Six teams on Georgia’s schedule competed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Georgia will host its annual Alumni Match in Stegeman on Saturday, Aug. 18.
In Black’s first season as head coach, Georgia finished 22-12 and fifth in the SEC with a 10-8 conference record. Georgia returns five starters plus libero in 2018. In all, 11 letterwinners return as the Bulldogs lost only three following the 2017 season. Georgia will look to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013 this season.
2018 Georgia Volleyball Schedule
Benson Invitational (Athens, Georgia)
Aug 24 vs. Coastal Carolina
Aug 25 vs. Furman
Aug. 25 vs. Illinois State
UC Irvine Tournament (Irvine, California)
Aug. 31 vs. Texas Tech
Aug. 31 at UC Irvine
Sept. 1 vs. CSU Bakersfield
Buffs Invitational (Boulder, Colorado)
Sept. 7 at Colorado
Sept. 8 vs. Oklahoma
Sept. 9 vs. North Carolina
Georgia Tech Tournament (Atlanta, Georgia)
Sept. 14 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 15 vs. North Carolina State
Sept. 21 vs. LSU*
Sept. 23 at Texas A&M*
Sept. 28 at Ole Miss*
Sept. 30 vs. South Carolina*
Oct. 3 at Auburn*
Oct. 7 at Florida*
Oct. 10 at LSU*
Oct 14 vs. Texas A&M*
Oct. 21 at South Carolina*
Oct. 26 vs. Kentucky*
Oct. 28 vs. Tennessee*
Nov. 2 at Alabama*
Nov 9 at Arkansas*
Nov 11 at Missouri*
Nov 15 vs. Auburn*
Nov 18 vs. Florida*
Nov. 21 vs. Arkansas*
Nov. 23 vs. Mississippi State*
* – SEC match
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