LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola's 2010 Volleyball schedule is likely to go down as one of the most difficult in program history. The schedule, which was officially released on Monday, features 18 matches against teams which reached the NAIA national tournament last season and 21 against teams ranked in the final NAIA rankings.
The Eagles' 2010 schedule features three non-conference tournaments to kick off the year, three additional matches against non-conference foes including two home contests against NAIA powerhouse teams and the usual 20 Golden State Athletic Conference matches.
Biola opens the season with a pair of matches at the Azusa Pacific Cougar Classic on Saturday, Aug. 21, opening the season against Viterbo University (Wisc.) at 9:00 a.m. The Eagles' other game at the classic is against a 2009 NAIA tournament qualifier in Black Hills State University (S.D.).
The classic will serve as a tuneup for the biggest two-day stretch of the year as the Eagles head to Orange City, Iowa the following weekend for the Northwestern College Tournament on Aug. 27-28. Biola will face four highly-ranked teams including host Northwestern, which knocked the Eagles out of last season's NAIA Tournament. The Eagles open the tournament against tournament-participants Bellevue University (Neb.) and Northwestern on Friday, then take on NAIA Semifinalist Lee University (Tenn.) and Dordt College (Iowa) on Saturday.
The Concordia University Labor Day Festival awaits Biola upon its return and pits the Eagles against the University of Great Falls (Mont.) and Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) on Friday followed by matches against Westminster College (Utah) and Colorado Christian University on Saturday.
Biola then dives head-first in GSAC play. The conference is widely regarded as the top volleyball conference in the NAIA and featured eight teams ranked in the final NAIA Top 25 rankings last season. The Eagles' first GSAC match is a home contest against cross-town foe Hope International University on Tuesday, Sept. 7, with NAIA Semifinalist Concordia University and Fresno Pacific University immediately following on Saturday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 14, respectively.
As if the conference slate wasn't difficult enough, Biola will also face two non-conference powerhouse teams. The Eagles welcome Taylor University (Ind.) to Chase Gymnasium on Thursday, Oct. 14. The Trojans were ranked No. 16 in the final 2009 NAIA rankings and return all seven starters from the squad which advanced out of pool play at the NAIA Tournament.
Biola also plays host to the University of Texas-Brownsville on Thursday, Oct. 28. The Scorpions, who finished in the NAIA Top 10 and reached the NAIA Quarterfinals last season, likely will be in the top five of the preseason NAIA National Poll when it is released in August.
"This is probably the toughest schedule we've had while I have been here," said Head Coach Aaron Seltzer. "We have two non-conference home matches against strong opponents and some serious competition in our three tournaments. Then you have our conference schedule and everyone from last year will be good or better this year. When all is said and done, we will have played most of the teams that will be in the national picture at some point this season."
Despite going through a "rebuilding" year in 2009, Biola reached the NAIA tournament for the third-straight season, posting a 23-11 overall record and finishing the season ranked No. 10 in the NAIA.
CLICK HERE to view the 2010 Biola University schedule or CLICK HERE for a printable, PDF version.
