Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Wednesday, May 30 the school's women's volleyball schedule for the 2007 season. Head coach Kelly Sheffield has entered his team in five tournaments and put together a three-game swing through the state of Alabama. The Great Danes, who reached the NCAA Tournament last year as the America East Conference champion, will host the UAlbany Classic on Sept. 14-15 at University Gymnasium and play a 12-game conference slate.
UAlbany opens the season at the Northern Arizona Invitational in Flagstaff, Ariz. on Aug. 24-25. New Mexico State, ranked 23rd nationally in last year's final AVCA national poll, is the first-round opponent. The Aggies, who posted a 33-4 record, are one of three teams on the schedule who were in the 2006 NCAA field. The Great Danes will also meet the Northern Arizona and UC-Davis.
UAlbany will host its own tournament in September. The field includes Brown, Northeastern and Eastern Michigan. The Great Danes are also entered in the VCU Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 23-24), Sheraton-Penn Invitational (Sept. 22-23) and the Western New York Invitational (Sept. 1-2).
The Great Danes are slated to make a three-game swing through the state of Alabama on Sept. 9-10. UAlbany travels to Jacksonville State, before playing both Alabama State and Troy in the state capital of Montgomery. America East play begins on Sept. 28 against Hartford.
UAlbany finished with a 19-13 record last season in winning the America East crown for the second time in the last three years. Ashley Crenshaw, who averaged 3.02 kills per game, heads the list of returnees as a first-team all-conference selection. Kamisha Kellam, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, earned second-team all-league recognition with 2.25 kills and 1.35 blocks per game.
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2007 University at Albany Women's Volleyball Schedule
August -- 24 (Fri.), New Mexico State+, 7:30; 25 (Sat.), at Northern Arizona+, 3:30; 25 (Sat.), UC-Davis+, 7:30.
September -- 1 (Sat.), West Virginia#, 10:00 a.m., 2 (Sun.), at Buffalo#, 2:00; 3 (Mon.), at Syracuse, 3:00; 9 (Sun.), at Jacksonville State+, 2:00; 10 (Mon.), at Alabama State, 3:00; 10 (Mon.), Troy (Montgomery, Ala.), 5:00; 14 (Fri.), Eastern Michigan^, 1:00; 14 (Fri.), Northeastern^, 7:00; 15 (Sat.), Brown^, 3:00; 22 (Sat.), Temple^^, 1:00; 23 (Sun.), at Pennsylvania, 11:00 a.m.^^; 23 (Sun.), Quinnipiac^^, 1:00; 28 (Fri.), Hartford*, 7:00; 29 (Sat.), Stony Brook*, 7:00.
October -- 5 (Fri.), New Hampshire*, 7:00; 7 (Sun.), Maine*, 2:00, 12 (Fri.), at UMBC*, 4:00; 15 (Mon.), at Binghamton*, 7:00; 21 (Sun.), at Siena, 4:00; 26 (Fri.), at Stony Brook*, 7:00; 27 (Sat.), at Hartford*, 6:00.
November -- 2 (Fri.), Binghamton*, 7:00; 4 (Sun.), UMBC*, 3:00; 9 (Fri.), at Maine*, 4:00; 11 (Sun.), at New Hampshire*, 1:00; 23 (Fri.), at Virginia Commonwealth++, 7:00, 24 (Sat.), Long Island++, 1:30.
*America East Conference Opponent All Times Eastern
+Hilton Garden Inn NAU Invitational (Flagstaff, Ariz.)
#Western New York Invitational (Buffalo, N.Y.)
^UAlbany Classic (University Gymnasium)
^^Sheraton-Penn Invitational (Philadelphia, Pa.)
++VCU Thanksgiving Tournament (Richmond, Va.)
