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Jonathan Bates | Associate Editor
Tusculum, who finished 5-13 last season, will face MIVA member Ball State, in the opening week of the 2022 season. Ball State finished the 2021 season with a 12-8 record after losing to eventual MIVA champion, Lewis, in the MIVA Tournament semifinals. The Cardinals will also open the season with a new head coach, as long-time head Joel Walton retired after the 2021 season – his 23rd season at the helm in Muncie.
Ball State will be the first NCAA team outside of ConfCarolinas and the Independent ranks to visit Greenville in the program’s short two-year history.
Tusculum finished third in the 2021 IVA Tournament, after defeating both No. 5 seed Alderson Broaddus and No. 3 Limestone. Middle attacker Caleb Slater was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Tusculum returns all but two players from last year’s team (Arthur Amorim, Peter Stewart). The Pioneers welcome seven newcomers, including Erskine transfer Jacob Whyte. Whyte ranked No. 2 for Erskine in 2021 with 2.77 kills per game and 27 aces.
The Pioneers will play 25 matches, with 12 of them on the road, 11 at home, and two on a neutral court. The schedule will also feature seven home-and-home series, including three with fellow Independent teams.
The schedule breaks down with nine matches versus ConfCarolinas opponents, eight versus Independent opponents, three versus SIAC opponents, and one each versus a MIVA, MPSF, NAIA, and Division III opponent.
A highlight of the 2022 schedule is that Tusculum will travel to Phoenix the week after Spring Break for a road match versus Grand Canyon and a neutral site match versus an opponent to be determined.
Tusculum 2022 Schedule
Jan. 11 vs. North Greenville
Jan. 15 vs. Ball State
Jan. 21 at Fort Valley State
Jan. 22 at Emmanuel
Jan. 28 at Erskine
Feb. 1 at North Greenville
Feb. 4 vs. Alderson Broaddus
Feb. 5 vs. Erskine
Feb. 11 vs. Limestone
Feb. 12 vs. Queens
Feb. 18 vs. Fort Valley State
Feb. 26 at Randolph-Macon
Feb. 26 vs. TBA (at Randolph-Macon)
March 1 vs. Lincoln Memorial
March 4 at Barton
March 5 at Mount Olive
March 8 vs. D’Youville
March 10 vs. King
March 12 vs. Indiana Tech
March 18 at Grand Canyon
March 19 vs. TBA (at Grand Canyon)
March 25 at Limestone
March 26 at Queens
March 31 at King
April 8 vs. Edward Waters
April 12 at Lincoln Memorial