May 8, 2003

Sixth-year Head Coach Steve Opperman released today his 2003 women's volleyball schedule. Duquesne will compete in four in-season tournaments beginning with the Duquesne / Robert Morris Invite Aug. 29-30 with Eastern Michigan, Loyola (MD), St. Peter's and Davidson. Also highlighting the slate are two NCAA participants with a home match vs. Temple Nov. 14 and a road contest at Robert Morris Sept. 9. The Dukes will also compete in the Rice, UMBC and West Virginia Invitationals.

A solid non-conference schedule is on hand as seven of the Dukes' opponents racked-up 20-plus win seasons last year going a combined 162-77. Two of those teams will visit the Palumbo Center with Eastern Michigan (27-7) and Davidson (23-11) competing in the DU/Robert Morris Invitational. Adding to the strength of schedule are possible matches with McNeese State (20-13) at the Rice Invitational, Georgia State (25-14) at the UMBC tourney and Marshall (20-12) at the WVU Invitational. In addition to its game at RMU (27-11), Duquesne will host cross-town rival Pitt (20-9) Oct. 14 as well.

The season wraps-ups at the Atlantic 10 Championships where the top four seeds vie for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The University of Rhode Island will host this year's championships Nov. 21-22.

Duquesne returns five starters from last year's 18-12 squad, which ended the season in a three-way tie for fourth in the Atlantic 10 with Xavier and Rhode Island. The Dukes were 9-2 at the Palumbo Center.

This year marks the 30th season of women's volleyball at Duquesne. The first team took to the court in 1974. Volleyball became an NCAA sport in 1981 and the Atlantic 10 added the sport in 1982. Duquesne began competing at the Division I level in 1986.

To view the 2003 schedule, go to the women's volleyball page and click on schedule.