BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University volleyball head coach Matt Ginipro announced the full 2016 schedule on Wednesday afternoon. The upcoming slate features 12 home matches and 16 regular-season Sun Belt Conference matches. Over the last three seasons, Appalachian State holds a 35-9 (.795) record in matches held in Boone.
“I'm excited to get the 2016 season started up,” said Ginipro. “I believe we've put together a good non-conference schedule to prepare us for the Sun Belt season. I also like the divisional play we are doing in conference. Sun Belt play is always challenging, but travel with divisional play is significantly better for our student-athletes.”
The Mountaintaineers kick off the 2016 season by traveling to Blacksburg, Va. for a tournament hosted by Virginia Tech on Friday, August 26. The Apps will face-off against the host Hokies, Norfolk State and Siene. App State will then return home to host the Appalachian Invitational beginning on Friday, September 2 and will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 3. Appalachian will host UNCW, Ohio and Wofford.
Before traveling to Morehead, Ky. for its third tournament, the Mountaineers will travel to Western Carolina for a non-conference mid-week match against the former Southern Conference foe on Tuesday, September 6. Later that week, beginning on Friday, September 9, the Apps will play Morehead State, Northern Kentucky and Ball State in a tournament hosted by Morehead State.
App State's final tournament and non-conference matches will come in Chattanooga, Tenn. at UTC's tournament and they will play Chattanooga, Ole Miss and Tennessee State.
After finishing Sun Belt play with a 13-3 record last season, the Mountaineers will open up its third campaign of Sun Belt play by hosting Arkansas State on Sept. 23 and Little Rock on Sept. 25 – both matches will be held inside Varsity Gymnasium.
The Apps' first road trip of the season will come the following week when they travel to UT Arlington on Sept. 30 and Texas State on Oct. 2.
Appalachian will end conference play with four-straight matches at home beginning on Nov. 4 against Georgia State and will host Georgia Southern (Nov. 6), South Alabama (Nov. 11) and Troy (Nov. 13) before heading off to the Sun Belt Championhips in Arlington, Texas. The conference tournament will run from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20.
