Butler Volleyball Team Unveils 2002 Schedule

May 16, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS, IND.-The Butler volleyball team's 2002 schedule boasts three 2001 NCAA Tournament teams and seven teams which won 20 or more games throughout last season. The Bulldogs' schedule is highlighted opponents from 13 different conferences, including teams from the highly-touted Pac 10, West Coast Conference and Mountain West Conference. Also on the 34-game slate are seven teams that Butler will be taking on for the first time in the program's history.

'We are excited about the overall strength of our schedule," said head coach Sharon Clark, who is entering her third season with the Bulldogs. "I believe the strength of our non-conference schedule will help us get ready for a tough Horizon League season."

Butler will begin its season at St. Louis University's Billiken Classic, where the Labor Day weekend tournament field also includes Austin Peay and Providence. After hosting Montana State in the home opener on Sept. 1, the Bulldogs will again take to the road at the Mortarboard Purdue Premier on Sept. 6-7. The Boilermakers will also play host to Sun Belt Divisional winner Western Kentucky, Delaware and IPFW in the five-team tournament.

After hosting non-league foe Indiana State on Sept. 10, the Bulldogs will make the trek to California, where they will take on Sacramento State, a team which won the Big Sky regular season and went 20-9 overall, on Sept. 12. That weekend, the Bulldogs will participate in the University of San Francisco Tournament, where they will battle it out against Top 25 vote-getter Washington State, IPFW and the host Dons.

The Bulldogs will take part in their fourth tournament of the season on Sept. 20-21 when instate rival Indiana hosts the IU Tournament. Louisville leads the four-team lineup, returning from a 26-7 campaign and a second place finish in the Conference USA. Also participating in the tournament are the host Hoosiers and the Mid-American Conference's Central Michigan.

Following a rigorous Horizon League slate, which includes NCAA Tournament participant and Horizon League Tournament champion UW-Milwaukee (20-8), Horizon League regular-season champion Loyola (21-8) and regionally-ranked Wright State (21-7), Butler will take part in New Mexico University's Albuturkey Tournament. Highlighting the list of participating teams is nationally-ranked UCLA and Rice, winner of the WAAC Eastern Division last season.

The Bulldogs return nine of 12 letterwinners from last year's 12-13 team, including All-Horizon League second team selection Keely Norris and All-Newcomer team honoree Kali Carter.