DAYTON - University of Dayton volleyball head coach Tim Horsmon has announced the 2019 schedule. Dayton will be squaring off against five of the nation's top 30 teams this coming fall in addition to a full Atlantic 10 slate.

Six of UD's 2019 opponents, including exhibition foe Pittsburgh, participated in the 2018 NCAA Volleyball Championship and all advanced to at least the second round of play. Five of those teams finished last season ranked or receiving votes in the final AVCA Coaches' Poll: No. 11 Florida (Regional Semifinals), #12 Michigan (Regional Semifinals), #14 Pittsburgh (Second Round), #23 Missouri (Second Round) and RV Louisville (Second Round). Cincinnati was the sixth 2019 opponent to reach the second round of last year's national tourney.

"This pre-conference schedule will be one the most challenging I can remember," commented Horsmon. "We will get to see who we are early, and we are looking for players to step into big roles that the three graduating seniors filled this past year."

Dayton will host Pittsburgh on Saturday, Aug. 24 for an exhibition match at Frericks Center before opening its regular season at Louisville the weekend of Aug. 30-31. At the Cardinal Classic, UD will match up against Florida, Texas A&M and host UofL.

After a midweek match at Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday, Sept. 3, the Flyers will open their regular season home schedule with the Dayton Invitational Sept. 6-7. Michigan, Missouri and Northern Illinois will be at Frericks Center for the six-match event. Dayton's pre-conference schedule rounds out with trips to Missouri State Sept. 13-14 and Ohio State Sept. 20-21.

"We're really excited about our home weekend Sept. 6-7," Horsmon said. "We hope to set some new attendance records and play some great matches with Michigan, Missouri and Northern Illinois. We will be trying to top last season's Ohio State match attendance record in those two night matches against Michigan and Missouri and look forward to seeing our loyal fans and Red Scare in full force!"

Atlantic 10 action will get underway the weekend of Sept. 27-28 as Dayton will open conference play on the road at Saint Louis either Friday or Saturday. Oct. 4 and 6 will be the Flyers's first two A-10 dates at Frericks Center as the team welcomes Rhode Island and Fordham, respectively. Back-to-back weekend road trips will follow as Dayton takes on George Mason and George Washington Oct. 11-13 and will then hit the east coast with games at Fordham and Rhode Island Oct. 18 and 19.

"I also believe our league will be much improved this year," prognosticated coach Horsmon. "Overall last year, I think we had a lot of young players playing in programs that are traditionally strong."

Mason and GW will return the trip to Dayton Oct. 25-27 and the Flyers will then step out of conference play for a midweek contest at Cincinnati Oct. 30. La Salle and Duquesne will be on tap for Dayton the first weekend in November and league action will close out with the Flyers at home hosting Davidson and VCU.

The 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship is slated for Nov. 22-24 in Kingston, Rhode Island, hosted by the Rhode Island Rams.

"We are as talented and deep as I can remember one of our squads being and should have a great deal of competition internally. I like that we will push each other everyday in practice," Horsmon reflected. "We showed both our youth and talent this spring. This summer will be big for our players to work on their skills, our system and get to work with Mark Thobe who I think is one of the best strength coaches in the country. It's always exciting to get them back after a summer with him and to see the work they've put into it and to see the gains they've made."