April 20, 2006

The UD volleyball team wraps up its 2006 Spring campaign with its fourth tournament of the season on Saturday in Aurora, Illinois. Dayton will take part in the 24-team Great Lakes Center Collegiate Invitational that includes six opponents slated for the 2006 Fall schedule for the Flyers.

UD is seeded 12th in the 24-team field that begins in the morning session with a three-team round robin. Also in Dayton's morning group are Minnesota and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Flyers are scheduled to face the Golden Gophers next fall in Minneapolis. Purdue, Cincinnati, Indiana, LSU and Arizona are also included in both this weekend's tournament and the 2006 Fall schedule for UD.

"This weekend should give us an opportunity to gauge the progress we have made this Spring," UD Head Coach Tim Horsmon said. "The level of competition at this tournament is the best we will see this Spring and is on par with our Fall schedule."

Dayton has been idle from competition for two weeks following an impressive performance at the UC Spring Invitational. The Flyers finished 7-3 including 2-0 sweeps of Duke and Kent State.

"When we are able to stay in system, we have done a good job offensively this Spring," Horsmon commented. "We have changed a few things with our blocking scheme and I believe we are starting to see some success from that."

Among the highlights for Dayton at UC was the play of setter Erin Schroeder and outside hitter Chauntay Mickens.

"Erin and Chauntay had a solid weekend for us," Horsmon said. "Erin is continuing to improve upon her decision making and is developing into a solid setter. Chauntay is playing well and had a good day attacking on the left side at Cincinnati."

Play at the Great Lakes Center Collegiate Invitational begins on Saturday in Aurora at 8:00 a.m. CT with pool play. Each team will then move on to bracket play that is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT.

For more information, log on to www.greatlakescenter.com.