PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne women's volleyball team has unveiled the 2021 schedule, which includes four preseason events.
 
The Dukes and Head Coach Steve Opperman, who will enter his 24^th season at the helm, will stay in the region for non-conference events in Pennsylvania, Ohio and western New York.
 
Duquesne will open the season on Aug. 27 as part of the two-day Youngstown State Classic. The Dukes will also face Saint Francis (Pa.) and Akron as part of the event.
 
The team will make the short trip down the parkway to Moon Township for the Robert Morris Invitational Sept. 3-4 to take on Idaho, Liberty and host-Robert Morris.
 
The Dukes will travel the following weekend on Sept. 10 for the Western New York Invitational. Duquesne will open the two-day event with Canisius and Buffalo, before closing out the event against American on Sept. 11.
 
Duquesne will wrap up non-conference play on Sept. 17-18 with matches at the Golden Flashes Invitational against Youngstown State and host Kent State.

The Atlantic 10 returns to a 16-match schedule this Fall. The Dukes open A-10 play on Sept. 24-25 with road contests at George Mason and George Washington.
 
Duquesne will play its home-opener on Oct. 1 against 2020-21 A-A10 Champion Dayton inside the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. After a road-trip to Dayton on Oct. 3, the Dukes will play five-straight home matches with contests against Saint Louis (Oct. 8), VCU (Oct. 9), Davidson (Oct. 10), Fordham (Oct. 15) and Rhode Island (Oct. 17).
 
The Dukes will hit the road for the next four matches, with visits to Davidson (Oct. 22), VCU (Oct. 24), Rhode Island (Oct. 29) and Fordham (Oct. 31). Duquesne returns home for matches with George Mason (Nov. 5) and George Washington (Nov. 7), before closing out the regular-season at Saint Louis (Nov. 13).
 
The UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse will serve as the host for the 2021 A-10 Championship Nov. 19-21.
 
The Dukes will unofficially open the season with an exhibition match at Ohio University on August 21 at 2 p.m.
 
2021 Schedule Quick Notes

• Duquesne will be facing a trio of teams for the first time in over a decade in Akron (2004), Liberty (2007), American (1995).
• The Dukes and Idaho will be meeting for the first time this season. The Vandals are the only first-time opponent this season and the 170^th unique opponent for the volleyball team in program history.
• Duquesne will play Robert Morris for the 44^th time – the most meetings against a non-conference opponent for the Dukes. Duquesne holds the all-time series record at 34-9.
• The A-10 Championship will be held in Pittsburgh for the first time since 2017. It will be the sixth time the league's champion will be crowned in the Steel City.