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In less than seven weeks, Southeastern volleyball will start the 2012 season with an eight-game, two-tournament trip to Texas.

It’s just the beginning of a 32-game odyssey for Savage Storm volleyball in the post-Lunden Azuara era, starting in late summer (Aug. 31) and, hopefully, running deep into the postseason on the cusp of winter in mid-December.

The Savage Storm will open the 2012 season at the 2012 Rattler-Hilltopper Classic in San Antonio, Texas, on Aug 31 and Sept. 1. The event will open with an Aug. 31 meeting with Angelo State and will also include matches against Midwestern State, St. Mary’s and Abilene Christian.

Following a trip to the Tarleton State Classic in Stephenville, Texas, Sept. 7-8, SE will open its home schedule with a matchup against first-year Great American Conference member Southern Nazarene.

Southeastern will then hit the road for the first of two rivalry meetings with East Central on Sept. 20, with the second coming on Oct. 25 in the friendly confines of Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium.

SE will feature four out-of-conference home matchups, the first being against future GAC member Northwestern Oklahoma State on Sept. 22, followed by an Oct. 9 meeting with Central Oklahoma, an Oct. 23 contest with Arkansas-Fort Smith and finally on Nov. 5 against Pittsburg State .

The Storm will face five Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association members in 2012. Aside from the home date with PSU, SE will face Emporia State, Washburn, Missouri Western State and Truman State at the Washburn Regional Crossover event.

The schedule will also feature home GAC matches with Arkansas Tech, Harding, Ouachita Baptist and Southwestern Oklahoma State.

The 2012 Southeastern volleyball schedule, with home games in bold:

Aug. 31-Sep. 1 at 2012 Rattler-Hilltopper Classic

Aug. 31 vs. Angelo State (Texas) 1 p.m.

Aug. 31 vs. Midwestern State (Texas) 5 p.m.

Sep. 1 at St. Mary’s (Texas) 11 a.m.

Sep. 1 vs. Abilene Christian (Texas) 5 p.m.

Sep. 7-8 at Tarleton State Tournament

Sep. 7 at Tarleton State (Texas)

Sep. 7 vs. Incarnate Word (Texas)

Sep. 8 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce

Sep. 8 vs. William Jewell (Mo.)

Sep. 11 Southern Nazarene (Okla.)* 7 p.m.

Sep. 20 at East Central (Okla.)*

Sep. 22 Northwestern Oklahoma State 2 p.m.

Sep. 25 at Texas A&M-Commerce

Sep. 28 Arkansas Tech* 7 p.m.

Sep. 29 Harding (Ark.)* 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Southern Nazarene (Okla.)* 7 p.m.

Oct. 5-6 Washburn Regional Crossover

Oct. 5 vs. Emporia State (Kan.) 9:30 a.m.

Oct. 5 at Washburn (Kan.) 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 6 vs. Missouri Western State 11 a.m.

Oct. 6 vs. Truman State (Mo.) 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 Central Oklahoma 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Southern Arkansas*

Oct. 13 at Arkansas-Monticello*

Oct. 16 at Southwestern Oklahoma State*

Oct. 19 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)* 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 Arkansas-Fort Smith 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 East Central (Okla.)* 7 p.m.

Oct. 27 at Northwestern Oklahoma State

Oct. 30 at Cameron (Okla.)

Nov. 2 at Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)

Nov. 3 at Henderson State (Ark.) * 1 p.m.

Nov. 5 Pittsburg State (Kan.) 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 Southwestern Oklahoma State* 7 p.m.

Nov. 15-17 at Great American Conference Tournament

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at NCAA Regional Tournament