Photo from the UMHB Athletics Department
BELTON, Texas- The 2021 UMHB volleyball schedule has been released, and as always, head coach Mark Pryor has scheduled a quality non-conference schedule followed by 18 ASC matches.
The Cru is looking to win consecutive ASC titles for the first time, having captured the 2020-21 conference championship in Belton with a three-set sweep of UT-Dallas.
UMHB does not have to go far to open its season on August 28, taking the short trip to Georgetown for a non-conference match against SCAC program Southwestern.
A trip out east follows less than a week later, as the Cru play the first ASC match of the season against Belhaven on Sept. 2 at 6:00 p.m. CT. The Crusaders have limited rest before taking on the Millsaps College Tournament from Sept. 3-4. Played in Jackson, Mississippi, the Cru are set to face Millsaps, Birmingham-Southern, Huntingdon, and Centenary.
In all, the Cru will play six times within a seven day stretch.
Conference play starts three days later on Sept. 7 with a trip far west to Alpine, Texas, to play Sul Ross State.
Unlike this past season, in which two-game series between teams were scheduled, the ASC has gone back to a format of playing individual conference matches, though all teams will face each other twice during the season.
The biggest road match of the season comes on Sept. 17 in Richardson, Texas, when the Cru face UT-Dallas. The two have had a rivalry going for quite some time now, considering the two opponents have faced off in each of the last seven ASC title matches. That match is set for 6:00 p.m. CT.
The second meeting between the two will be on Oct. 22 in Belton at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Just one day later, Oct. 23, marks the regular season home finale for the Cru, as LeTourneau comes to Belton. The YellowJackets went 16-6 last season. The Saturday afternoon contest will start at 2:00 p.m. CT.
Another extremely competitive set of matches are those against Concordia (TX). Pryor said during the spring schedule that Concordia was “going to give us some trouble” and the Tornadoes return five key contributors. The Cru host Concordia on Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. CT and the two meet again on Oct. 29 in Austin to close out the regular season.
Midweek non-conference games have also been scheduled against Texas Lutheran and Schreiner.
Information on the 2021 ASC Tournament has yet to be released.
The Cru lost standout outside hitter Corinne Novak and defensive specialist/libero Adrien Valdez, but bring back the majority of the rotation, including ASC Tournament MVP Hannah Frasca. UMHB was predicted to finish second in the ASC this season behind UT-Dallas in D3 Volleyball West’s ASC preview on Thursday.
For the complete 2021 UMHB volleyball schedule, click here:
https://cruathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule/2021
