SHAWNEE – Perennial Great American Conference contender Oklahoma Baptist and 16th-year head coach
Anna Howle announced its 2023 schedule on Friday. The 27-match slate begins on Sept. 1 in Mobile, Alabama.
"We are so excited about our 2023 schedule, playing a lot of the top teams in our region. We can't wait to showcase OBU volleyball," Howle said. "Our preseason has some great team trips planned that will prepare us for a great conference season."
Like most schools across the country, the opening weeks consist of travel to invitationals. For the Bison, they'll start with the University of West Florida SpringHill Suites Invitational on Sept. 1-2. OBU will face Southwest Minnesota State, Spring Hill, West Florida and Mississippi College over the course of those two days.
The next weekend will bring the Washburn Invitational. From Sept. 8-9, the green and gold will match up against William Jewell, the host Ichabods as well as Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western State.
OBU will return to its home state on Sept. 12 for a road match against Central Oklahoma before returning to its last invitational. On Sept. 14-15, the Bison will take part in the Missouri S&T Miner Invitational and play the hosts and Upper Iowa.
Following that stretch of non-conference matches, Howle's team will start Great American Conference competition.
The Bison open at Northwestern Oklahoma State on Sept. 19 before returning home for their first game inside the Noble Complex against East Central on the 21st. OBU's final two September matches come at Southern Nazarene and at home against Southeastern on the 26th and 28th, respectively.
October's early beginning will bring three straight matches on the road. On the 3rd against Southwestern Oklahoma State, followed by dates against Harding and Arkansas Tech on the 6th and 7th, respectively. After that road swing, OBU will return home during fall break and play Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello on Oct. 12 & 13.
Another key road swing will follow for the Bison. Between Oct. 19 and Nov. 2, the team will play five matches, four of which come away from Shawnee. Those include Ouachita (10/19), Henderson State (10/20), East Central (10/31) and Southeastern (11/2).
OBU will conclude its regular season on Nov. 7 and 9 against SWOSU and Southern Nazarene.
The GAC Tournament comes between Nov. 16-18 in Hot Springs, Arkansas with the top-eight teams participating.
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