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Nothing like a first-year program challenging itself — and by a lot.
Edward Waters as part of revealing its inaugural schedule announced it will play a two-match non-conference road series against the defending NCAA champions Hawai’i in its opening week of the 2022 season.
Edward Waters is one of six historical black colleges and universities from SIAC that will start men’s volleyball programs in the upcoming season. The Tigers are also the first school from Florida to start a NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball program.
Coach Brandon Reeves earlier this year unveiled a 16-player inaugural recruiting class, including three players who spent time competing with the Dominican Republic Men’s Junior National Team.
Hawai’i ended last season undefeated in the regular season and won the program’s first NCAA championship in 19 years. In addition, setter Jakob Thelle guided the Rainbow Warriors to a nation-best .360 attack percentage and helped Hawai’i hit .381 in its NCAA Tournament finals sweep against BYU.
Thelle highlights the starters returning for the Rainbow Warriors, which will have to replace multiple All-Americans from their championship team. The team, though, adds All-MPSF middle attacker Kyler Presho who transferred from Stanford in the offseason.
The series between Hawai’i and Edward Waters will begin Jan. 14 with the teams having an off day before the series finale.
These will be the only matches Edward Waters will play in its inaugural season against a team that finished 2021 in the national coaches poll.
Edward Waters will face the NCAA Division III school Lancaster Bible in its program’s inaugural match on Jan. 11. That season opener will be one of nine home matches for the Tigers with five of those matches occurring in the final three weeks of the season.
2022 Edward Waters regular season schedule
Jan. 11 vs. Lancaster Bible
Jan. 14 at Hawai’i
Jan. 16 at Hawai’i
Jan. 21 at Life
Jan. 27 at Webber International
Jan. 29 vs. Truett-McConnell
Feb. 3 at Lees-McRae
Feb. 4 at St. Andrews
Feb. 5 at North Greenville
Feb. 9 vs. Webber International
Feb. 18 at Emmanuel
Feb. 19 at Limestone
Feb. 25 vs. Long Island
March 4 at Erskine
March 5 vs. Benedict
March 8 at St. Francis Brooklyn
March 9 at Long Island
March 11 at Kentucky State
March 12 at Central State
March 19 at Fort Valley State
March 24 at Morehouse
March 25 at Truett-McConnell
April 1 vs. Central State
April 2 vs. Kentucky State
April 8 at Tusculum
April 15 vs. Fort Valley State
April 16 vs. Morehouse