The Middle Tennessee volleyball team is entering the 2011 season with high expectations after losing just one starter from the 2010 Sun Belt Championship squad, and they'll be putting those postseason hopes to the test with a challenging 2011 schedule as announced by head coach Matt Peck on Friday.

"Once again, we have put together a very tough schedule for the fall," Peck said. "We have 10 teams on the schedule who finished last season in the top 50 in the RPI. I'm really looking forward to the home schedule this year. It's very strong with us hosting two Sweet 16 teams, and I think our fans will be excited with the caliber of opponents we are bringing to AMG."

The Blue Raiders will take on seven NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, including three regional semifinalists and two conference champions.

Full schedule

Middle Tennessee will kick off the campaign with a a pair of games in Fayetteville, Ark., taking on Mountain West champion Colorado State, who finished last season 26-5, before going up against host and SEC foe Arkansas later in the day.

"I'm looking forward to the first weekend," Peck said. "Colorado State made the Sweet 16 in 2009 after beating us in five sets in the first round, and Arkansas is a good team as well. It's a great way for us to start off."

From there, the Blue Raiders will come home for the first of two home tournaments. Middle Tennessee will play host to Missouri, who reached the Sweet 16 last season, prior to opening up play at the Blue Raider Bash against ETSU, who compiled a 26-9 record in 2010. MT will also play fellow 2010 NCAA participant Auburn in the event.

The road continues to get tougher the following weekend with the Middle Tennessee Invitational. The Blue Raiders will host another Sweet 16 team in Illinois before playing Conference USA champion Tulsa and Cal Poly on the following day. Tulsa ended the 2010 season with a remarkable 31-3 record, and Cal Poly was 22-7.

"The first tournament features a team I've never played in East Tennessee State, another SEC school in Auburn," Peck said. "The following weekend has us hosting another Sweet 16 team with Illinois, who will also be the first Big Ten team to play here. Tulsa just missed out on the Sweet 16 as well, falling in five sets to Oklahoma."

The non-conference season comes to an end in Wisconsin on the next weekend. MT will play the first of two 2011 contests with Marquette, who went 23-9 a year ago, before taking on 2010 regional semifinalist Minnesota on the next day.

The Blue Raiders will follow up by opening conference play with a pair of home contests against Arkansas State and UALR before setting out on what might be one of the more important road stretches of the season, heading to Florida Atlantic, FIU and Western Kentucky over a span of five days.

"Obviously our non-conference schedule is always important, but that first stretch is big," Peck said. "Our first goal is always to win the Sun Belt and doing well in those early matches could pay off for us later. It also means we will get to host those three teams towards the end of the season, which is also huge."

Middle Tennessee will get a chance to stay at home over the next stretch, hosting eight of ten within the friendly confines of Alumni Memorial Gym. The slate will feature two non-conference opponents Marquette and Georgia Tech, as well as SBC foes South Alabama, Troy, Florida Atlantic, FIU, North Texas and Denver.

"Our team usually plays on the well on the road," Peck said. "But getting to play host for a solid stretch towards the end of the season is nice. It gives a chance for our team to play in front of their own fans when it counts."

As was the case last year, the Blue Raiders will close out the Sun Belt regular season with archrival Western Kentucky, this time in Alumni Memorial Gym, before preparing for the 2011 Sun Belt Tournament in Miami, Fla.

Middle Tennessee will also play one game after the Sun Belt Tournament, hosting VCU in what could be a vital tune-up match for both schools should they make the 2011 NCAA Tournament field.

"Virginia Commonwealth played us tough last year," Peck said. "I think they're going to be in contention for the postseason, and I think that's why their coach wanted to come play us. It could help us both prepare for postseason, and it's nice to be playing at home that Thanksgiving weekend so we won't have to worry about travel."

Middle Tennessee's preparations for the 2011 season will begin in training camp this August. Stay tuned to GoBlueRaiders.com for further news and updates about Blue Raider Volleyball.