Volleyball Unveils 2024 Slate
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) volleyball team and fourth-year head coach Sheila Gisbrecht have announced the schedule for the upcoming 2024 season. Highlighting the Blue Jays' 25-match regular-season slate are 12 home matches, including three home tri-matches inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium on the campus of USJ.
The Blue Jays begin the 2024 campaign on the road at Little East Conference (LEC) member and intra-state foe Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) on Friday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m. The following the day, USJ makes its 2024 debut inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium, hosting ECSU and Mount Holyoke for a tri-match. USJ will first face the Lyons at noon before having a rematch against the Warriors at 4:00 p.m. Following the season opening tri-match, USJ heads back on the road for a three-game road trip, starting with a visit to local foes Trinity University of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) on Wednesday, September 4. First serve against the Bantams is set for 6:00 p.m. in Hartford, Conn.
Following the opening stretch of the season, USJ remains on the road with a stop in Westfield, Mass., facing Westfield State University of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. The Blue Jays then begin Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday, September 14, with a battle of the Saint Joseph's, facing Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Standish, Maine.
USJ then returns to West Hartford with a quick break from GNAC play, hosting intrastate and NESCAC foes Connecticut College on Tuesday, September 17 at 6:00 p.m. The volleyball team then returns to conference action with a trip to Northfield, Vt., to battle Norwich on Friday, September 20 at 6:00 p.m., before stepping back out of GNAC play with a non-conference match at home against Sarah Lawrence on Saturday, September 21 at 1:00 p.m.
The Blue Jays then continue GNAC play by heading on the road for three consecutive matches to conclude the month of September. The team first makes the quick trip north to Chicopee, Mass., facing Elms College on Wednesday, September 25. USJ then heads to Nashua, N.H., for a conference tri-match on Saturday, September 28, meeting Colby-Sawyer on the court at 1:00 p.m., before facing hosts Rivier at 3:00 p.m.
When the calendar flips over to October, Saint Joseph takes a quick break from conference play, hosting intrastate and LEC opponent Western Connecticut State University inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium on Wednesday, October 2. First serve against the Wolves is slated for 6:00 p.m. The Blue Jays then return to GNAC action, hosting a tri-match against Anna Maria and Regis. The team first faces the AMCATS at 11:00 a.m., before concluding the day against the Pride at 3:00 p.m. Volleyball then heads back on the road for two matches, first traveling to Framingham, Mass., for a match against Framingham State on Tuesday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m., before facing New England College for a GNAC match on Saturday, October 19 at 1:00 p.m. in Henniker, N.H.
Volleyball then returns home for five of their next six matches, starting with the team's non-conference finale against Bay Path University on Wednesday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m. USJ then welcomes the reigning GNAC champions Lasell University on Friday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m., before making the trek to New London, Conn., to meet Mitchell College on Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m.
The Blue Jays' then return home for its final home tri-match of the season on Saturday, November 2 against Johnson & Wales and Simmons. USJ first meets the Wildcats at 11:00 a.m., before rounding out the day against the Sharks at 3:00 p.m. USJ then plays its final home match of the 2024 season, facing intrastate and GNAC rivals Albertus Magnus on Tuesday, November 5 at 6:00 p.m. The match against the Falcons will serve as Senior Night for the Blue Jays.
Rounding out the 2024 regular-season schedule is a road tri-match for the Blue Jays on Saturday, November 9 at Emmanuel in Boston. USJ first meets Dean College at noon, before concluding the year against the host Saints at 2:00 p.m.
The top-ten teams in the league standings advance to the 2024 GNAC Tournament, which is set to begin with the first round on Monday, November 11, with the seventh and eighth seeds serving as hosts, followed by the quarterfinals on Tuesday, November 12 at the sites of the top-four seeds. The semifinals will be held on Thursday, November 14 by the remaining two highest seeds, followed by the championship match on Saturday, November 16 by the highest remaining seed.
The Blue Jays concluded the 2023 campaign with an 8-21 record overall and a 6-9 record in GNAC play, advancing to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. USJ, who earned the ninth-seed, defeated New England College in the opening round, before falling to top-seeded Simmons in the quarterfinals.
Admission to all USJ regular-season volleyball matches in 2024 is free of charge. Fans who cannot make it to matches in person can watch all of the action live and on demand by visiting https://portal.stretchinternet.com/usj/.
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