The Eastern volleyball will open its 2011 season as it travels to Terre Haute, Ind., to take on four teams in the Indiana State Quality Inn/ASICS Classic.

Senior setter Chrissie Albers said the team is excited to face some tough competition and see what it can do.

“We’re really excited to finally be playing someone other than ourselves,” Albers said. “I think this week in practice we’ve been progressively been getting better, so I think we’re getting more game ready.”

Senior libero Brittany Wallace echoed the sentiment, saying the week of practice has helped prepare the team to work and play together as a team.

“We’re ready to go,” Wallace said. “We’ve been in the gym a lot and we’ve been getting a lot better as practice is going on, so we’re excited to play some other competition besides ourselves and see where we stack up. We’re excited to get out of the gym and go somewhere else.”

Last year the Panthers’ pre-OVC schedule included long trips to Cambridge, Mass., as well as East Lansing, Mich., but this year their conference schedule is considerably lighter on travel distance.

Albers said that the lighter travel should help the players nursing injuries, as well as keep everyone’s legs fresher.

“It’s definitely nice because we don’t have to spend a whole day of travel,” Albers said. “Usually your legs get tired; you have to get used to being in a different area, so being so close will be very beneficial.”

The Panthers, even though they are playing four matches this weekend, are taking things one match at a time, as they go forward.

“Miami (OH) is our first game, so we’re really concentrating on them right now,” Albers said. “It’ll be a good test for us to see how we work well as a team.”

Albers and Wallace both agreed that despite the reduction in proximity, this year’s pre-season schedule is just as tough as last year’s.

“The schedule is really tough,” Albers said. “We’re playing NCAA qualifying teams, so I think it’ll definitely be a test just like last year was a test.”

“We know we have a tough pre-season,” added Wallace. “We know we’re playing some really good teams. As much as that’s going to be tough for us we’re excited because that’s just going to prepare us better for our conference schedule.”

The Panthers start their first match 1:30 p.m. today in Terre Haute and will play four matches between today and Saturday against Miami, Indiana State, Chicago State and Coppin State, respectively.

They will open their OVC schedule Sept. 16 at home when they take on Southeast Missouri starting at 7 p.m. in Lantz Arena.

Brad Kupiec can be reached at 581-7944

or [email protected].