Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb volleyball head coach Leo Sayles, in conjunction with the Gardner-Webb athletic department, is pleased to announce the Runnin' Bulldogs' upcoming 2013 fall schedule, which includes only 11 home matches throughout the season and road tournaments at Belmont University, Cal State Fullerton, and Elon.

"I believe we have the right mix of challenging matches, very competitive competition with regional rivals and some winnable games that will help us learn how to compete in any situation," Sayles stated. "If we manage the early season well, we can build confidence early and be better prepared for regular season play in the Big South."

GWU will open up the 2013 season at the Belmont Invitational hosted by the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Champions in the Belmont Bruins on August 30-31st in Nashville, Tenn.

"The Belmont tourney is a challenging way to begin our season, it will be a tremendous test of our readiness, with matches against Belmont, North Florida and Miami of Ohio." Sayles commented.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will then play its home opener on Tuesday, September 3rd, as GWU will host the Montreat College Cavaliers in Paul Porter Arena at 7 p.m.

Coach Sayles' squad will then head out west to compete at the Embassy Suites Fullerton Classic hosted by Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, California on September 6-7th, before returning home to host Western Carolina on Tuesday, September 10th, at 7 p.m.

"The tourney at Cal State Fullerton will give us a good mix of challenges - we match up well against William & Mary, will see tremendous size from Kent State and a strong team from Cal State Fullerton, who are used to playing tough competition," continued Sayles. "Western Carolina handed us one of our toughest losses last season at their place, but we beat them at home in 2011. This should be a great competition for us at home."

Gardner-Webb will then return to the road to take part in the Elon Phoenix Classic held by Elon University in Elon, N.C. on September 13-14th, prior to traveling to Charleston, S.C. to do battle with The Citadel in non-conference action on Tuesday, September 17th, at 6 p.m.

"Last season's trip to Elon's tourney was beneficial. I believe we will be much more prepared to emerge victorious against Elon, East Carolina and N.C. Central."

After a home contest versus Brevard College on Thursday, September 19th, at 7 p.m., the Runnin' Bulldogs hit the road for three straight weeks with contests at Charlotte, UNC Asheville, South Carolina State, Liberty and Radford.

"Big South Conference play will again be very competitive this year. We must improve on the road to move up the conference standings. With several new coaches at different conference rivals this year, I hope we can catch some teams early, put ourselves in a good position, and persevere down the stretch," continued Sayles. "The four game series between October 25th and November 2nd will likely be critical once again to our final standings, since we only see those teams once this season."

The three-week long road swing kicks-off at Charlotte on Tuesday, September 24th, at 7 p.m. and then continues with the Runnin' Bulldogs' Big South Conference opener at UNC Asheville on Friday, September 27th, at 7 p.m. in Asheville, N.C.

"Our match at Charlotte is returning the favor for their visit to our tourney last fall," said Sayles. "We had a very competitive match last fall. I expect the same, but the challenge will be to play well on their home court."

GWU will then step out of conference play once more to travel to Orangeburg, S.C. to face off with the Bulldogs of South Carolina State on Tuesday, October 1st, at 7 p.m. before jumping back into Big South play with back-to-back road contests at Liberty, on Friday, October 4th, and at Radford, on Saturday, October 5th, in the state of Virginia.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will then return home for its longest home stand of the 2013 season, as GWU will host Davidson on October 8th at 8 p.m., Presbyterian on October 11th at 7 p.m. and Winthrop on October 12th at 2 p.m.

"Davidson is a good SoCon team and a challenge, but we hope we will have a strong home crowd to guide us to victory."

After a non-conference road test at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. on Tuesday, October 15th, at 6:30 p.m., the Runnin' Bulldogs will return home for a Friday night showdown with the Asheville Bulldogs on October 18th at 7 p.m.

The Big South Conference slate will continue for GWU, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will then hit the road for back-to-back contests at Coastal Carolina on Friday, October 25th, and at Charleston Southern on Saturday, October 27th, before resuming its home slate with back-to-back conference bouts versus Campbell on Friday, November 1st, and High Point on Saturday, November 2nd, in the friendly confines of Paul Porter Arena.

GWU's final road trip of the season will follow with matches at Winthrop on Friday, November 8th, and at Presbyterian on Saturday, November 9th.

The 2013 regular season slate will then conclude with back-to-back home contests versus Radford on Friday, November 15th, at 7 p.m. and against Liberty on Saturday, November 16th, at 4 p.m. with Senior Day festivities set for the final weekend of play.

"Taking on both Liberty and Radford at home this season gives us a great opportunity to finish the regular season well and hopefully give us a good spot in the conference tournament," commented Sayles.

The 2013 Big South Conference Volleyball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting will be hosted by Presbyterian College and is scheduled to take place on November 20-24th in Clinton, S.C.

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