The 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) volleyball season begins this weekend with all 13 MEAC programs competing in non-conference matches.   

The defending MEAC champion University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks will begin their season on the road at the St. Francis Terrier Invitational on Friday, August 24. The Lady Hawks were picked as the preseason favorite in the northern division. Last year, UMES posted an undefeated conference mark (12-0) and a 24-7 overall record.

Florida A&M tips-off their season this weekend at the University of Florida Tournament. The southern division preseason favorite will also face Florida Gulf Coast and Florida International during the two day event.   Last year, the Lady Rattlers recorded a 9-1 conference mark and 24-7 overall record.

Morgan State and North Carolina Central will host tournaments to start the 2012 season, while Howard will open its season at Rider.

Additional season openers include: Bethune-Cookman (East Carolina Tournament), Coppin State (Morgan State Invitational), Delaware State (UNC Wilmington Tournament), Hampton (North Carolina Central Tournament), Norfolk State (Kristen Dickmann Invitational) North Carolina A&T (West Carolina Invitational), Savannah State (Texas Arlington Invitational) and South Carolina State (Clemson Invite).

Conference play begins on September 23 with UMES traveling to Dover, Delaware to take on the Delaware State Lady Hornets.

The 2012 MEAC Volleyball Championship will be held November 16-18, 2012 on the campus of Coppin State University in Baltimore, Md.