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Volleyball Opening Day Set For Friday
VB Notebook

	Tyler Henderson, Tulsa

Aug. 23, 2012

IRVING, Texas - Conference USA tips off its 18th season of volleyball Friday as all 12 members will be in action at various tournaments across the country.

The league welcomes back a plethora of talent and experience as 92.4 percent of its Top 12 scorers are back and 85.1 percent of its blocking returns to the net. However, the league took a hit with only three of its top 12 liberos from a year ago returning (32.3 percent). In the assist distribution category, C-USA has 10 of its top 13 floor generals back that account for 72.3 percent.

Volleyball Notebook_Aug. 23

2012 C-USA Volleyball Guide (color)

2012 C-USA Volleyball Guide (black/white)

Houston has the toughest opening weekend as the Cougars will face a pair of AVCA Preseason Top 25 opponents. The Cougars will open play at the Ohio State Sports Import DC Koehl Classic on Friday against Toledo at 10:30 a.m. CT, followed by a 4 p.m. match against host and No. 24 Ohio State. The team will wrap up the tournament on Saturday against No. 20 Oregon at 12:30 p.m. in Columbus. The Cougars are lead by first-year coach KADDIE PLATT who returns four starters, plus the libero as well as welcomes 10 newcomers to her program. Platt's first win as the leader of the Houston Volleyball program will be one to remember as the 18-year veteran coach is one win away from her 500th career victory. After spending 17 seasons as head coach at Houston Baptist, Platt will look to continue the winning tradition for Houston.

Preseason C-USA favorite Tulsa will take a short drive to Norman, Okla., to compete in the Nike Invitational. The Golden Hurricane begins its quest for a third-straight NCAA Tournament berth with a date against Western Michigan on Friday, August 24, at the Howard McCasland Field House. TU will face I-44 rival Missouri State on Saturday, August 25 at 10 a.m., and wraps up the tournament facing host Oklahoma in a 7 p.m. affair. Tulsa eliminated OU from the opening round of the 2011 NCAA Championship. TU, under the direction of second-year head coach Steven McRoberts, looks to build on their 28-7 record from a year ago and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tulsa returns six starters and the libero, and nine letterwinners overall.

OPENING WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Fri., Aug. 24
Aug. 24-25 EAST CAROLINA CLASSIC
>> Campbell at East Carolina 6 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Ohio State Sports Import DC Koehl Classic (Columbus, Ohio)
>> Houston vs. Toledo 10:30 a.m.
>> Houston at #24 Ohio State 4 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 THUNDER INVITATIONAL
>> Wright State at Marshall 6 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 MEMPHIS INVITATIONAL
>> Austin Peay at Memphis Noon
>> Southern Illinois at Memphis 7 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 RICE INVITATIONAL I
>> Air Force at Rice 7 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Georgia Tech Invitational (Atlanta, Ga.)
>> SMU vs. Charleston Southern 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 SOUTHERN MISS INVITATIONAL
>> South Alabama at Southern Miss 7 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Fairfield Inn North Baylor Classic (Waco, Texas)
>> Tulane vs. Nevada 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Nike Invitational (Norman, Okla.)
>> Tulsa vs. Western Michigan 5 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Blue Raider Bash (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
>> UAB vs. UTSA 2:30 p.m.
>> UAB at Middle Tennessee State 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24-26 USF Invitational (Tampa, Fla.)
>> UCF vs. Creighton 4 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION INVITATIONAL
>>Fresno State at UTEP 8 p.m.

Sat., Aug. 25
Aug. 24-25 EAST CAROLINA CLASSIC
>> Bethune-Cookman at East Carolina 12 p.m.
>> Charlotte at East Carolina 6 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Ohio State Sports Import DC Koehl Classic (Columbus, Ohio)
>>Houston vs. #20 Oregon 12:30 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 THUNDER INVITATIONAL
>> IUPUI at Marshall 12 p.m.
>> Miami (Ohio) at Marshall 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 MEMPHIS INVITATIONAL
>> UALR at Memphis Noon
>> Eastern Michigan at Memphis 5 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 RICE INVITATIONAL I
>> Arkansas State at Rice 12:30 p.m.
>>BYU at Rice 7 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Georgia Tech Invitational (Atlanta, Ga.)
>> SMU vs. Cal State Fullerton 11 a.m.
>> SMU at Georgia Tech 6 p.m.
AUG. 24-25 SOUTHERN MISS INVITATIONAL
>> Central Arkansas at Southern Miss 11 a.m.
>> LA Tech at Southern Miss 7 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Fairfield Inn North Baylor Classic (Waco, Texas)
>> Tulane vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 10 a.m.
>> Tulane at Baylor 7 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Nike Invitational (Norman, Okla.)
>> Tulsa vs. Missouri State 10 a.m.
>> Tulsa at Oklahoma 7 p.m.
Aug. 24-25 Blue Raider Bash (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
>> UAB vs. UC Davis 10 a.m.
>> UAB vs. Furman 3 p.m.
Aug. 24-26 USF Invitational (Tampa, Fla.)
>> UCF vs. Wisconsin 10 a.m.
Aug. 24-25 EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION INVITATIONAL
>> Idaho State at UTEP 3 p.m.
>>Arizona State at UTEP 6:30 p.m.