Complete 2012 Hampton University Volleyball Schedule

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University volleyball team announced its 2012 schedule on Tuesday, a slate that includes five in-season tournaments – two of which are local – and six home matches.

The Lady Pirates, in their sixth season under head coach Pedro Gonzalez, will look to build upon a 2011 season that saw them win 13 matches – the most under Gonzalez – and win the program's first-ever MEAC Tournament match (a 3-1 defeat of 2010 champion South Carolina State in the quarterfinals).

The 2012 season will kick off on Aug. 24-25 in Durham, N.C., as the Lady Pirates compete at the North Carolina Central Tournament for the second straight year. They will face Elon on Aug. 24, before taking on Liberty and Bradley on Aug. 25.

From there, Hampton will head to Deland, Fla. on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 for the Stetson University Tournament; the Lady Pirates will take on Central Arkansas and Wofford on Aug. 31, before taking on Florida Atlantic and Stetson on Sept. 1.

Hampton defeated both Florida Atlantic and Stetson this past season at the Holiday Inn/Bethune-Cookman Invitational.

On Sept. 7-8, the Lady Pirates will be in Lake Charles, La. for the McNeese State Tournament. They'll square off against Bethune-Cookman and McNeese State on Sept. 7, before taking on Baylor and Arkansas State on Sept. 8.

The next two tournaments will give fans a chance to see the Lady Pirates in-person, beginning with the William & Mary Tournament in Williamsburg, Va. on Sept. 14-15. Hampton will face MEAC rival Howard on Sept. 14, before taking on Elon and William & Mary on Sept. 15.

From there, the Lady Pirates will be in Norfolk, Va. on Sept. 21-22 for the Norfolk State Invitational. After facing the rival Spartans on Sept. 21, the Lady Pirates will take on South Carolina State and Texas Pan American on Sept. 22.

Conference play will start on Sept. 23, when Hampton takes on Norfolk State in its home debut at Holland Hall. The Lady Pirates will then take to the road, heading to Baltimore, Md. to take on Morgan State on Sept. 28 and Coppin State on Sept. 30.

Hampton will return home to face Howard on Oct. 5, before hitting the road again to take on defending MEAC champion Maryland Eastern Shore on Oct. 12 in Princess Anne, Md. and Delaware State on Oct. 14 in Dover, Del.

The Lady Pirates will visit Norfolk State on Oct. 19, before returning to Holland Hall to take on Coppin State (Oct. 26) and Morgan State (Oct. 28). Hampton's last road game will be at Howard in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 4.

Hampton will close the 2012 regular season on Nov. 9 against Delaware State at home, before playing host to Maryland Eastern Shore in the regular season finale on Nov. 11.

Match times for conference play will be 6 p.m. for Friday matches and 3 p.m. for matches on Sunday.

The 2012 MEAC Volleyball Championships will be held Nov. 15-18 at a location yet to be determined.

Dates and times are subject to change.

For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.