Erie, Pa- The Mercyhurst volleyball team announced their 2024 schedule this week as they prepare to compete at the Division I level. Head coach Ryan Patton enters his 20^th season as the leader of the Laker Volleyball program and expresses that "We're aware of the challenges ahead with our transition to Division I, but its challenges that make it all fun. Each time we added a match to the schedule, the transition became a little more real and there was another spark of excitement. We're eager to see what this season brings."

The team welcomes Canisus to campus for their home opener on the 5^th of September. The Lakers will then play a series of road games beginning the very next day. Hosted at Saint Francis University, Mercyhurst will challenge Siena and Penn on September 6^th and 7^th before heading to Buffalo to take on Canisius again on the 8^th. 

The travel away from home continues into the middle of September as the Lakers take on Akron, Duquesne, Niagara, and Youngstown State. Their nonconference schedule ends as October begins and Mercyhurst remains on the road to open NEC. Conference play starts with Stonehill on October 4^th and 5^th. 

The long stretch away from home ends with two games against Farleigh Dickinson on the 11^th and 12^th, as the Lakers finally find their way back to Erie for a long home stand. The end of October features a pair of games against Saint Francis on October 18^th and 19^th. The Lakers will then welcome Central Connecticut on the 25^th and 26^th before hosting LIU to begin the month of November. 

A trip to Chicago State for a pair of games will then take place on November 8^th and 9^th before the Lakers close out their regular season at home on November 15^th and 16^th, playing host to the Dolphins of Le Moyne College. 

This offseason has been instrumental in preparing for what is to come.  Patton states that "Our spring season was a tremendous success. We saw the improvement in play that coaches want to see. As important as anything, our team has set high standards for teamwork, cohesion, effort, and expectations – this team 'gets it' and is doing the things great teams do. After several rocky seasons, we're heading into the next one with some real momentum."

As the team begins this transition, Patton explains that "we're going to have 10 new players in our gym in the fall, a mix of transfers and freshmen. The addition of this talent, combined with returners coming off a great spring is cause for excitement as next season approaches. While we know there will be an adjustment period, we don't intend to just be a Division I team, we're determined to be a successful Division I program."