TOWSON, Md. – Two tournaments at SECU Arena and a trip to Puerto Rico highlight the 2018 schedule for the Towson University volleyball program. Head coach Don Metil released the schedule for the upcoming season Thursday afternoon.

After playing away from home for most of the first month of the 2017 season, the Tigers will compete in the Greater Baltimore area for the first month of the season, excluding a weekend trip to Puerto Rico.

Towson opens the year down the road at Loyola University for a two-day tournament. The Tigers open the Baltimore Bash on Friday, Aug. 24 with a 3 p.m. match against Radford. On Saturday, Aug. 25, the Tigers take on Sienna at 12:30 p.m. before concluding action at 7 p.m. against the host Greyhounds. All three matches will be held at Reitz Arena.

The following weekend, the Tigers head to San Juan for the Puerto Rico Clasico. On Friday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m., Towson takes on Miami (Fla.) before squaring off with Arizona State at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1. Towson wraps up the Clasico on Sunday, Sept. 2 with a 5:30 p.m. showdown with Xavier.

Towson officially opens its home schedule with the first leg of the Towson Invitational on Sept. 6 with a 6 p.m. clash with Princeton. The Towson Tigers will play two on Friday, beginning the day with Long Beach State at 1 p.m., following by a 7 p.m. match with yet another Tiger foe in the University of Missouri. Towson caps the Invite on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 4:30 against Ohio State.

In addition to Towson's games at the Invite, Long Beach State and Princeton open the event on Thursday with a noon match. Princeton and Missouri will meet on Friday at 10:30 a.m. before Princeton and Ohio State meet at 4 p.m. The final neutral game pits Missouri against Ohio State at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The following weekend, the Towson will host another round robin weekend, the Tiger Invitational. Towson opens the weekend with La Salle on Friday, Sept. 14 with a 7 p.m. match. The Tigers will play a pair on Saturday, Sept. 14, hosting Ball State at 4 p.m. followed by crosstown rival UMBC at 7 p.m.

 On Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., the Tigers open Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play with long-time foe Delaware. Towson continues a three-game home stand the following day with a 7 p.m. showdown against Northeastern at 7 p.m. The stand concludes on Monday, Sept. 24 with a 7 p.m. match against Hofstra.

Towson's first test on the road in league play comes on Saturday, Sept. 29 with a 7 p.m. match at James Madison. Towson's first back-to-back road weekend comes on Thursday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 6 as the Tigers clash at Elon and William & Mary, respectively. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.

The Tigers return home for a pair, kicking off with UNCW on Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. before welcoming the College of Charleston to town on Friday, Oct. 12 at noon. The match against Charleston has been designated as the program's annual Autism Match, which includes a benefit walk in the morning prior to the league match.

A five-game road swing then awaits the Tigers, who lead off on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. against Hofstra. Towson then heads north to Boston for a 1 p.m. match against Northeastern on Sunday, Oct. 21. The Tigers' final nonconference match of the season comes on Wednesday, Oct. 24 with a 6 p.m. start at Delaware State.

On Saturday, Oct. 27, the Tigers continue the road swing with a 7 p.m. showdown at Charleston before heading to UNCW on Monday, Oct. 29 for a 7 p.m. match.

After a long road swing, Towson makes its final home stand of the season with three-straight matches. On Friday, Nov. 2, the Tigers host Elon at 7 p.m. before a senior day clash against William & Mary at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. The Tigers final home game of the 2018 season will be on Wednesday, Nov. 7 with a 7 p.m. match against James Madison.

Towson wraps the CAA regular season that it began, lining up at Delaware on Friday, Nov. 9 with a 7 p.m. start time against the Blue Hens.

- TowsonTigers.com –