HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College volleyball team has released its 2017 schedule, a slate that features 27 total matches and 13 home contests dotting the landscape of the fall semester.
Last season, the Fords qualified for the postseason for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons as first year head coach Drew Hargrave completed her first season at the helm of the program. First-team Centennial Conference first team selection Zoe Wong is back to lead a young squad that will be aiming for an NCAA tournament berth after reaching the NCAA regional semifinals as recently at 2014.
After the Alumnae Game on Sunday, August 27, The action begins as Haverford hosts its annual Invitational tournament at Gooding '84 Arena to begin the regular season. The matchups begin on September 2 with Haverford taking on Rowan (1:00 p.m.) and 2016 NCAA tournament participant Stevens (3:00 p.m.) before the Fords return on Sunday, September 3 to face John Carroll (10:00 a.m.) and 2016 NCAA quarterfinalist Mary Washington (2:00 p.m.).
The homestand continues with two straight Wednesday night contests. Haverford hosts Elizabethtown on September 6 and Immaculata on September 13.
The Fords make their first road appearance of the year at the Neumann Knights Invitational in Aston, Pa. On Friday, September 15, Haverford takes on Rutgers-Camden before returning later in the evening to do battle with Catholic. The tournament continues into Saturday, September 16 as Haverford takes on Widener and plays a to be determined opponent in the second game of the day.
Conference play begins in earnest with a home contest against Muhlenberg on Wednesday, September 20. Last season, Haverford took down a highly touted Muhlenberg squad in Allentown, Pa., prevailing in four sets in a match that helped solidify an 11-3 month of October.
Later in the week, the Fords will head to Lancaster, Pa. for a tri-match against Franklin and Marshall and Moravian (Sept. 23). The month of September concludes with the Fords facing reigning Centennial Conference champion Johns Hopkins and Arcadia (Sept. 30) for a tri-match beginning at noon.
October begins with a three-game road swing through Ursinus (Oct. 4) and Gettysburg (Oct. 7). The trip to Gettysburg will also include a non-conference matchup with Manhattanville. The three games on the road are followed by three at home with Haverford facing off with Washington College (Oct. 11) and hosting a tri-match with McDaniel and local foe Cabrini (Oct. 14).
The Fords travel to Dickinson for a midweek contest (Oct. 18) before a late season tournament at 2016 NCAA tournament team Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. The weekend tournament features a Friday night contest with DeSales (Oct. 20) before a doubleheader slate against Denison and the host Tartans (Oct. 21).
The Fords make the quick trip to Bryn Mawr to face off with the BiCo partner owls (Oct. 25) before wrapping up the regular season on Saturday, October 28 against Swarthmore on Senior Day. Last year, Haverford earned a first-round bye into the Centennial Conference semifinals in Baltimore by virtue of a thrilling five-set victory over the Garnet in Swarthmore, Pa.
The Centennial Conference tournament opens with the first round game slated for Wednesday, November 1 before semifinal and final action gets underway on November 4-5.