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Mississippi Valley To Implement Women's Soccer in FallApril 25, 2002ITTA BENA, MS - The Mississippi Valley State University Department of Athletics will welcome women's soccer as a part of the program beginning this fall, and with the schedule finalized, athletics director Lonza Hardy Jr. is increasing his efforts to fill the head coaching position for the campus' newest sport. "We are currently in the process of hiring a head coach and recruiting student-athletes for our soccer program," Hardy said. "We're elated over the conference's decision to make soccer our 10th women's sport. Because of the Olympics and World Cup competition, soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in America." Each of the 10 members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference will field a women's soccer program. Alabama A&M University is the only school within the SWAC that has had women's soccer as a varsity sport on the Division I level. Just as football, baseball, softball and volleyball, each team will play in divisions separated by the Eastern and Western leagues. Teams will be required to play a six-game schedule, including the four teams in their respective division and two teams from the opposite division. The top two regular-season finishers from the Eastern and Western Division will compete in the SWAC's post-season tournament each year. The inaugural SWAC soccer tournament will be held on the campus of AAMU in Huntsville, AL on November 9-10, 2002. The Devilettes will kick off the 2002 season in Houston, TX by traveling to play Texas Southern University. Although the Lady Tigers are in the Western Division, the game will count towards each team's conference standings. The MVSU campus will host its first ever soccer match when the Lady Tigers of Jackson State and the Devilettes tangle on Sunday, September 29 at 3:00 p.m. The Devilettes will take to the road on the following weekend, with a trip to Huntsville, AL to face the Lady Bulldogs of AAMU on Sunday, October 6. The University of Memphis will entertain the Devilettes in Memphis, TN on Friday, October 11. MVSU will complete its three-game road swing with a trip to Montgomery, AL to play Alabama State's Lady Hornets. MVSU will battle with in-state rival Alcorn State University's Lady Braves in a 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 20 showdown. The Devilettes will culminate the 2002 regular-season with a conference match versus Western Division foe Southern University on Sunday, November 8. The first round of the inaugural SWAC soccer tournament will begin on Friday, November 8 and continue through Sunday, November 10, when the first conference championship will be played. "Starting this fall, Delta area fans of the sport won't have to wait for the Olympics or World Cup to begin -they'll be able to watch the thrilling action of soccer right here on our campus." Hardy added. "Our plan is to not let women's soccer be just another sport at MVSU. We intend for it to be a championship-caliber sport." DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME
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