Last week women's soccer kicked off the fall 2010 schedule with the first games of the season, and now this week it's time for field hockey and volleyball. Twelve America East field hockey and volleyball squads embark on their 2010 campaigns this weekend.
Two field hockey teams will open the season by hosting their own tournaments. University of New Hampshire hosts the Wildcat Invitational and welcomes Delaware, Lock Haven and conference-foe Vermont into Durham, N.H. Vermont and Delaware square off Saturday at 11 a.m., while UNH and Lock Haven play at 2:30 p.m. The University at Albany turf field serves as host of the Capital Land College Classic this weekend as well. In addition to the Great Danes and America East preseason favorite Boston University, VCU and Hofstra, both of the CAA, comprise the tournament field. Albany and VCU kick-off the the Capital Land College Classic on Saturday at noon, while Boston U. takes on Hofstra at 2:30 p.m. Both tournaments continue Sunday as well.
University of Maine plays host to Providence to open both teams' seasons on Friday at 3 p.m., while Fairfield travels to play West Chester Saturday at 1 p.m. The Black Bears and Stags are then both on the road on Sunday as they take on #5 Connecticut and Temple, respectively.
Four America East field hockey teams enter the 2010 season receiving votes in the NFCHA national coaches' poll. The Terriers lead the way with 131 points, and the Great Danes with 118 points. The Wildcats and Black Bears are receiving 21 and 19 points, respectively.
Please click here for the full 2010 field hockey schedule.
Six volleyball teams begin play this weekend with in-season tournaments on the road. The newest member of the conference, associate member Providence College, will be the first when they participate against Kent State, Navy, UNC Greensboro, and Norfolk State at the latter's tournament in Norfolk, Va. New Hampshire heads to New York for the Army Tournament, where in addition to the host school, it faces St. John's and Fairleigh Dickinson over two days. University of Hartford will also stay in the Northeast at the LaSalle Explorers Tournament, which begins Friday at 4 p.m. against Niagara. Other competition over the weekend includes Valparaiso and LaSalle.
Albany, Binghamton and Stony Brook all travel a bit further to tackle some challenging competition. The Great Danes will open 2010 at Clemson's Big Orange Bash in South Carolina. Albany takes on Tennessee Tech on Friday, and Jacksonville and Clemson on Saturday. The Bearcats, the reigning America East Champions, make the trek to Ohio for Toledo's Rocket Volleyball Classic. They face a formidable challenge in #12 Michigan to open the season on Friday before facing both the hosts and Loyola (Md.) on Saturday. The Seawolves are bound for Big Ten country where they will find themselves cross court from #6 Minnesota on Saturday in the Gophers' own tournament. Stony Brook also faces Marquette and Denver during the tournament.
For the complete 2010 volleyball schedule, click here.