The 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) volleyball season begins this weekend featuring all 13 teams in non-conference matches.  

The defending MEAC champion South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs will open their season on the road at the Big Orange Classic, hosted by Clemson.  SCSU returns nine letterwinners, including five starters from last year's championship team.

The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers will travel to Athens, Georgia to compete at the Georgia Invitational on Friday, August 26. FAMU was picked as the preseason favorite in the southern division. Last year, FAMU won the southern divisional crown with a 7-1 mark and concluded the season with a 12-15 record overall.

Maryland Eastern Shore, the northern division preseason favorite, will begin its season on Friday at Hampton's annual Tiny Laster Memorial Tournament.  Savannah State, who will enter their first season of MEAC competition pending membership approval on September 1, and Bethune-Cookman will also compete in the two-day event.

North Carolina Central, who along with Savannah State begins their first season of MEAC play pending membership approval on September 1, will host the NCCU Hilton/RTP Tournament.

Additional season openers include: Delaware State (William & Mary Tribe Invitational), Howard (Pittsburgh Invite), Norfolk State (Asics Invitational), North Carolina A&T (UNC-Greensboro Tournament), and Morgan State (LaSalle Tournament). 

Conference play begins on September 23 with the North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies at North Carolina Central.

The 2011 MEAC Volleyball Championship will be held November 18-20 at Coppin State University in Baltimore, Md.

For a complete 2011 schedule and up-to-date information on MEAC Volleyball, log on to www.MEACsports.com.