2016 Schedule
ROCK HILL, SC – Winthrop head volleyball coach Bruce Atkinson has announced a 32-game schedule for his 2016 Eagle squad.
The 2016 slate will include 11 home contests, four early-season tournaments and a 16-match schedule of Big South Conference contests.
"I am excited about our upcoming season," Atkinson said. "I think that our non-conference schedule will help prepare our team for conference play and assist us in achieving our goal of winning a Big South Championship."
The Eagles open the season predominantly on the road with four road tournaments. Winthrop opens at the UNC Wilmington Tournament where it will face Jacksonville, Wilmington and Davidson Aug. 26-27. The Eagles then return to South Carolina to take part in the Carolina Challenge Sept. 2-3 at South Carolina where they will face Furman, Clemson and the host Gamecocks.
Winthrop takes a break from tournaments on Monday, Sept. 5 when the Eagles host Georgia Southern. September 9-10, Winthrop heads to UMBC and will face the host Retrievers, Robert Morris and Morgan State. The Eagles host another non-conference contest on Tuesday, Sept. 13 against the Western Carolina Catamounts. Winthrop closes its tournament travel Sept. 16-17 in Morgantown, WV. The Eagles will meet West Virginia, Dartmouth and Akron.
Following its last tournament, Winthrop jumps straight into conference play, hosting Gardner-Webb on Sept. 20. The Eagles will have only two more non-conference contests, both coming against NC Central. Winthrop will travel to Durham on Sept. 23 and host the Eagles on Oct. 12.
Big South play continues at home for Winthrop on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 as the Eagles host Campbell and High Point respectively. Winthrop then goes on the road for four straight conference games. The Eagles will play at Radford on Oct. 7 followed by Liberty on Oct. 8 before heading to UNC Asheville on Oct. 14 and Presbyterian on Oct. 15.
Another three-game home stretch starts for Winthrop on Oct. 21 against Liberty followed by Radford on Oct. 22. Charleston Southern comes to the Winthrop Coliseum on Oct. 25.
A four-game road stretch ends the month of October and begins November for the Eagles. October 28 Winthrop will play at Campbell followed by High Point on Oct. 29. The Eagles will have a slow start to November with a road game at Charleston Southern on Nov. 1 followed by Gardner-Webb on Nov. 8. The Eagles close out the regular season at home with a Nov. 10 date against Presbyterian followed by UNC Asheville on Nov. 12.
The Big South Volleyball Tournament will have a slightly new format in 2016 as only the top six teams will make the tournament with the top two teams earning a first-round bye. The tournament will be held in Lynchburg, VA Nov. 18-20.
