Here We Go!

One month before the start of fall quarter classes, the Seattle University athletics department is busy, as the student-athletes for men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, and volleyball have reported to campus and are about to begin their 2014 competition seasons.

The women's soccer team kicks things off Friday, Aug. 22, with the first of two home matches over the weekend, facing former conference rival Idaho at Championship Field starting at 5 p.m. The Redhawks continue the homestand with a matchup against Southeastern Conference member Kentucky Sunday, Aug. 24, starting at noon at Championship Field.

In total, the Seattle U women's soccer team will host 10 regular season matches this season, including five under the lights at Championship Field that were installed in the middle of the 2013 season. The Redhawks will look to defend their Western Athletic Conference title as they host the WAC Women's Soccer Tournament Nov. 6-9.

Also defending a WAC championship, the men's soccer team will begin the 2014 regular season on the road in South Carolina before facing the University of Washington in a rematch of the NCAA second round contest from last year. The Redhawks return to Championship Field Friday, Sept. 12, for a nighttime match against Pennsylvania, followed by a contest against perennial power Connecticut Sunday, Sept. 14.

The Redhawk men will host nine regular season matches at Championship Field as well as the WAC Men's Soccer Tournament Nov. 13-16. The athletics department and Seattle U grounds crew have already established a plan to make sure Championship Field remains in playing condition throughout the next three months.

The Seattle U volleyball team returns nine players from last year's squad that posted a winning conference record and advanced to the semifinals of the WAC Volleyball Tournament. The Redhawks will host an intrasquad scrimmage Friday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center before heading to Albuquerque, N.M., to start the regular season.

There will be two tournaments hosted by the Seattle U volleyball team this season, with the first one taking place Sept. 4-6 and featuring Pacific, Lafayette, and Oregon State. The next weekend, the Redhawks head across town to face 2013 national semifinalist Washington before returning to the Connolly Center to host UNLV and UC Davis. Seattle U will play 12 matches in front of the home crowd before hopefully heading to Bakersfield, Calif., for the WAC Volleyball Tournament Nov. 20-22.

Finally, the Seattle U cross country teams look to improve on their performances at last year's WAC Championships. The Redhawks will host the Emerald City Open Saturday, Oct. 18, at Lower Woodland Park, before heading to Edinburg, Texas, for the conference meet Saturday, Nov. 1.

For the most up-to-date information on the Seattle U athletics programs, visit the Redhawks' official website at goseattleu.com