Denver men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball fall conference schedules have been released by the Summit League.
Men’s soccer has six conference games scheduled between September 25th and November 6th. Denver has one bye along with three home games and three road games. Denver plays their first-ever match against new conference member St. Thomas in Denver on September 9th at CIBER Field. Denver plays Omaha at home on October 30th and concludes the conference regular season against UMKC on November 6th. In a key move, midfielder Destan Norman will be returning to the team as a graduate student.
Due to COVID-19, the NCAA postponed a vote on collegiate soccer for 2021 which would have split schedules between fall and spring. NCAA studies showed increased injuries when more than two matches per week were played. Also, nearly all other developmental leagues around the world operate with split seasons which support player development and recovery. Fortunately, this conference fall schedule includes only one conference game per week.
On the other hand, the Summit League women’s conference schedule crams nine matches for Denver in five weeks with no byes during the month of October. Most weekend series offer a two-day rest between games in a grueling conference format with little time for rest and recovery.
Summit League women’s volleyball is similar to the prior year’s schedules with eighteen conference games for each team starting September 23rd and ending November 20th. Denver is likely to be battling South Dakota for the top spot with their first match-up in Denver on September 16 and the Pioneers visit Vermillion on November 11th. Denver should be bolstered with the return of graduate players Ellie Anderson, Tina Boe, and Lydia Bartolo. South Dakota is returning their full team from last season that captured the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls last season. Former Pioneer Macy Carrabine is taking her graduate studies to play libero for Texas A&M.
Denver’s Fall non-conference schedules have not yet been announced.
Top Photo of Destan Norman courtesy of Denver Athletics
When are season tickets available?
DU is finalizing their non-conference schedules and pricing before selling season tickets for fall sports, hoops and gymnastics. Expect word from DU during July on season ticket packages. Hockey is already reaching out to season ticket holders for renewals.