Young Harris College volleyball coach Jenny Michael has released the 2021 volleyball schedule for the Mountain Lions.
"We know every conference match in the Peach Belt we'll be going up against a potential postseason regionally qualifying level opponent," said Michael. "In preparation for those battles we'll be challenging ourselves against several of the best teams within the region from surrounding conferences. While it's exciting to prepare for such a grueling schedule, we are super charged up to play in front of the Mountain Lion faithful and feel the energy of our fans in person as we Defend the Den."
INSIDE THE SCHEDULE:
- The Mountain Lions will face their largest schedule in program history as they have 27 matches slated for the 2021 campaign, including eight inside the YHC Recreation and Fitness Center.
- Young Harris only played 14 matches - all against Peach Belt Conference opposition - in last year's COVID shortened inaugural season last spring.
- The 2021 schedule features 17 matches against first-time opponents for the Mountain Lions.
- YHC opens its season with three in-season tournaments. The Mountain Lions will compete in the Queens Volleyball Classic in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sept. 3-4, the King Invitational in Bristol, Tennessee, Sept. 10-11 and the Flames Invitational in Cleveland, Tennessee, Sept. 16-17.
- The Mountain Lions will look for their first win in program history Sept. 3 when they open up their season against Elizabeth City State University Sept. 3 at the Queens Volleyball Classic.
- Young Harris will have five matches against teams in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association's NCAA Division II poll in the spring. The Mountain Lions will face No. 22 Wingate University (Sept. 3) in Charlotte, North Carolina, and have home-and-home matches against PBC foes Flagler College (Sept. 24, Oct. 15) and Augusta University (Oct.30, Nov. 6). Both the Saints and Jaguars received votes in the final poll.
- The Mountain Lions open their home portion of their schedule Sept. 14 when they welcome Emmanuel (Ga.) College inside the YHC Recreation and Fitness Center.
- YHC will face a 10-match PBC schedule in 2021. They will open the conference slate against defending PBC champion Flagler Sept. 24 at home.
- The Peach Belt Tournament will be contested Nov. 19-21 in Augusta, Georgia, on the Augusta campus.