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Tusculum will get its shot to try to upset one of the likely preseason favorites to win the EIVA championship.
Tusculum as part of releasing its 2021 schedule on Tuesday announced it will play a road non-conference match against George Mason on March 13.
The Pioneers competing as an independent team during their inaugural season finished the shortened 2020 season at 5-14 and had three wins against independents. The team also suffered a three-game loss to George Mason in February.
Middle attacker Arthur Amorim in that loss to the Patriots had three kills and zero attack errors on a .600 attack percentage and added a team-high two blocks.
Along with Amorim, the Pioneers return a majority of their starters for the upcoming season.
George Mason was ranked No. 15 in the national coaches poll at the time the 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Among the starters returning for the Patriots in 2021 includes All-EIVA opposite Hayden Wagner, who ended the 2019 season fifth in the nation with a 4.26 kills per game average.
This will be the Pioneers’ only match against an EIVA opponent in 2021
The team’s 24-match regular season will primarily consist of playing fellow NCAA Division I-II independent teams and ConfCarolinas schools. It also will play a home match against Kentucky State, a historical black university that is starting an NCAA Division II men’s volleyball program in 2021.
Tusculum 2021 schedule
Jan. 14 at North Greenville
Jan. 15 at King
Jan. 16 vs. Lourdes (at Campbellsville)
Jan. 16 at Campbellsville
Jan. 26 vs. Lees-McRae
Jan. 30 vs. Belmont Abbey
Feb. 2 vs. Lincoln Memorial
Feb. 5 vs. Kentucky State
Feb. 12 vs. Georgetown
Feb. 13 at Emmanuel
Feb. 19 at Georgetown
Feb. 26 at Limestone
Feb. 27 at Queens
March 5 vs. Bluefield
March 5 vs. Erskine
March 10 vs. Emmanuel
March 12 at Randolph-Macon
March 13 at George Mason
March 20 at Alderson Broaddus
March 26 vs. Queens
March 27 vs. Limestone
March 30 vs. North Greenville
April 10 vs. Alderson Broaddus (at Lincoln Memorial)
April 10 at Lincoln Memorial