MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University opens the 2012 volleyball season Friday, Aug. 31 against Washburn University as part of the two-day, four-match Hyatt Place Sunshine Classic in West Palm Beach.
The Buccaneers will also play Northwest Missouri State, Southern Indiana and Lewis University at the Sunshine Classic on the opening weekend. Barry spends the following weekend at the Grand Valley State Tournament in Grand Rapids, Mich., where the Bucs will see the likes of Lake Superior State, Grand Valley, Seton Hill and Stonehill College Sept. 7-8.
“We are really looking forward to our schedule this fall,” coach Steve Hendricks said. “We have added several very strong teams from around our region to help prepare us for an extremely tough Sunshine State Conference. Our trip up to Grand Valley State will also be great preparation. GVSU is well-coached, has a great history of success, and has put together a strong tournament. We will spend a day in the city of Chicago on that trip, too, so that our players can experience the Windy City.”
Barry opens the conference portion of the schedule at Saint Leo on Sept. 21. The Bucs’ home opener is Sept. 25 against Lynn at 7 p.m. Barry has nine home matches this season, ending the regular season Nov. 16-17 with back-to-back conference matches against Eckerd and Tampa.
The home opener against Lynn begins a stretch of four straight at Barry’s Health & Sports Complex over a week’s time. Florida Tech visits Miami Shores Sept. 28, Rollins comes to town the next day, and Nova Southeastern makes their cross-town trip to Barry Oct. 2.
Barry's alumni match is set for Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
Hendricks ushers in a fresh look this year with nine new players donning the red and black in his first recruiting class since taking over the program late last summer.
“We will have excellent leadership from four experienced seniors, and the incoming players are very talented and committed,” Hendricks said. “We are going to be a fun team to watch with strong ball control and a lot of options in the front and back row. The players have been working out this summer and I know they are excited to gel as a team and represent Barry University and our great alums.”