June 27, 2008

DURHAM, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University women's volleyball program has released its 2008 schedule with the Eagles opening the season hosting one of two tournaments at home.

The Hilton RTP/NCCU Volleyball Tournament will begin the campaign on Aug. 29-30 with the Eagles hosting UNC Asheville, UNC Charlotte, Elon, Eastern Illinois, Florida Gulf Cost, Campbell and the University of Maine.

The second NCCU Volleyball Tournament will take place on Sept. 26-27 with Hampton, South Carolina State, Kentucky State and Alabama State traveling to Durham.

The Eagles will journey to Colorado Springs to participate in the United States Air Force Academy Tournament on Sept. 12-13. In addition to host USAA, NCCU will meet teams such as Kent State, Florida Atlantic and Texas Corpus Christi. This will be the first time that NCCU will travel to Colorado Springs with an elevation of 6,035 feet (more than one mile) above sea level.

"I will make sure the team will have the stamina they need to be ready for the high altitude," said NCCU head coach Georgette Crawford-Crooks.

The Eagles continue on the road to play in the Winthrop University Volleyball Tournament on Sept. 5-6 and the South Carolina State Volleyball Tournament on Sept. 19-20.

"It's a tough schedule, but not an overwhelming one," said Crawford-Crooks, who enters her third season at the helm.

NCCU's home slate includes match-ups against UNC Wilmington, Charleston Southern and George Washington University, the alma mater of Athletics Director Ingrid Wicker-McCree

Other important dates to remember are Nov. 4 and Nov. 17 as the Eagles host long-time rivals North Carolina A&T and Winston-Salem State, respectively.

In 2007, the Eagles finished the season with a 21-13 record in their first season of Division I competition.

"Our goal is to match our record from a year ago and aim even higher in 2008," said Crawford-Crooks.