University of Arkansas head coach Robert Pulliza announced the 2008 Razorback volleyball schedule on Tuesday.

Pulliza and the Razorbacks face eight NCAA Tournament teams, take part in three tournaments and host 13 home matches this year.

Pulliza is ready to lead the Razorbacks through the demanding fivemonth battle.

" I'm looking forward to both the pre-conference and SEC schedules, " said Pulliza. " Any time you can play nine teams who have been to the NCAA Tournament in the previous year, it makes for an exciting season. This is a good schedule that will test us at every turn and I'm excited to get out on the court and see what we can do. "

Arkansas opens the year with three consecutive tournaments including its home event, the Arkansas Invitational. The Razorbacks travel to Colorado State for the Hilton Classic facing NCAA Tournament second-round opponent and host CSU on the Rams'home court. Arkansas also takes on Eastern Washington and Denver in the Aug. 29-30 event.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Razorbacks move on to the Georgia Tech / Regency Suites Classic in Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 5-7. Arkansas opens play with Xavier, which reached the first round of the postseason last year, then meets Michigan, which advanced to the third round. Also on the docket are Georgia Tech and Georgia State, both of which the Razorbacks face on their home courts.

Arkansas returns home hosting Tulsa on Sept. 10, before welcoming Lamar, Tennessee-Martin and Virginia Tech for tournament action at the Arkansas Invitational, Sept. 12-13, in Barnhill Arena.

The tournament marks the close of non-conference matches as the Razorbacks begin a grueling 20-match Southeastern Conference schedule that stretches through Thanksgiving weekend.

The Razorbacks open on the road at Auburn Sept. 19, followed by back-to-back home matches beginning with perennial powerhouse Florida, which reached the NCAA Tournament third round last year. Arkansas also hosts South Carolina Sept. 28.

October's schedule features road matches at Georgia, LSU, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ole Miss and South Carolina as Pulliza returns to Lexington for the first time as a head coach. LSU and Kentucky are NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.

The month's home matches include Alabama, Mississippi State and Auburn, Oct. 10, 12 and 26, respectively.

November is equally as busy are Arkansas makes its way through the league schedule for the second time. The Razorbacks open at Florida followed by home matches with Tennessee and Kentucky. Arkansas next travels to Mississippi State and Alabama, Nov. 14 and 16 in the final away SEC matches of the year.

The regular season concludes with three home matches against LSU, Georgia and Ole Miss, Nov. 21, 23 and 29.