By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
MONT ALTO, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto volleyball team announced the schedule for the 2018 season on Friday, a slate which features 10 home matches in the Multipurpose Activities Center Gymnasium.
The Nittany Lions will continue their drive for the programs fourth Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Championship, following their fifth-straight season with 15-plus victories and multiple wins in conference play.
Mont Alto opens up the 2018 season on Saturday, September 1 hosting Hollins University at 1 p.m. This will mark the first time in program history that PSUMA will square off against the NCAA Division III institution from Roanoke, Virginia. The Lions will then have a quick turnaround as they travel to the Baltimore area for a road match against Notre Dame of Maryland University on Tuesday, September 4. They will remain on the road for a midweek matchup with the University of Valley Forge on September 6.
On Saturday, September 8, Mont Alto jumps into PSUAC play at Penn State Greater Allegheny. The Nittany Lions return home for a three-match homestand beginning with a 7 p.m. match on Monday, September 10 against Christendom College. A mid-week league contest with PSU New Kensington (Thursday, Sept. 13) will give way to a Sunday afternoon showdown against PSU Beaver. The Mont Alto Department of Athletics and the volleyball team will honor all branches of the United States Military in a tribute to our veterans and the men and women currently serving within the military prior to the match against Beaver on September 16.
Only one of the final 10 matches during the month of September will be played on Mont Alto's home court. Wednesday, September 19 marks the beginning of a four-match road trip that will see the team travel to Penn State Fayette, Christendom College, and Penn State DuBois for a weekend tri-match with Kent State Tuscarawas on Sunday, September 23.
Following a home match with Notre Dame of Maryland on September 27, Mont Alto will play five matches in two days during the first-ever PSUAC crossover weekend, hosted by Penn State Fayette. Mont Alto will square off against teams in the east division September 29-30, battling Penn State Lehigh Valley, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Penn State Scranton, and Penn State Schuylkill.
PSUMA resumes conference play with an away match against Penn State New Kensington on October 3 before hosting Greater Allegheny three days later. The team will take part in Penn State Beaver's Pink Out festivities on Sunday, October 7.
Mont Alto concludes its regular season slate with five matches in five days, which includes a pair of pivotal conference matchups against Penn State Fayette on October 13 and Penn State DuBois on October 14. The Nittany Lions close out the regular season with a non-conference road tilt against Trinity on October 22.
Mont Alto will certainly look to make noise when the postseason tournament begins on October 24. The champion will be crowned a week later at Rec Hall in University Park on October 31.