Camels release 2023 schedule

BUIES CREEK – The Campbell Fighting Camels have released the 2023 schedule for the inaugural season of CAA play. The 28-match schedule features 12 home dates, three non-conference tournaments and 18 CAA matches. The season begins Aug. 25 with the home opener scheduled for Sept. 5

Campbell departed the Big South with back-to-back banner seasons, winning the tournament championship in 2021 and the regular season in 2022.

"I really love how our schedule sets up for this fall," head coach Greg Goral said. "With a veteran squad we are challenging our players early and often to be more prepared for CAA competition."

The 2023 campaign opens Aug. 25-27 in Boulder, Colo. with three matches against North Texas, Colorado, and UNLV.

The Camels then head back to North Carolina the following weekend (Sept. 1-2) for three matches in Greenville against ECU, App State, and Bethune Cookman.

The home opener comes Tuesday Sept. 5 against NC Central. That match leads into the 10th straight season of the Fairfield Dunn Campbell Invitational. This year, the Camels welcome Norfolk State, UTSA and Georgia Southern to Buies Creek for the event. The Camels will face Norfolk State Friday at 11 a.m. and UTSA that night at 7 p.m. Campbell wraps up the event Sept. 9 and 1:30 p.m.

The CAA schedule is set up to face one team back-to-back days each weekend. Campbell will play nine weekend series, with five of those on the road. The Camels' first taste of league play comes Sept. 16-17 at Delaware. Campbell is also on the road in the CAA at UNCW (Sept. 30-Oct. 1), Towson (Oct. 7-8), Hofstra (Oct. 28-29), and at NC A&T (Nov. 11-12).

Campbell will host four conference foes at Gore Arena, welcoming William & Mary (Sept. 23-24), College of Charleston (Oct. 14-15), Northeastern (Oct. 21-22), and Hampton (Nov. 4-5).

"Our CAA schedule is full of unique tests and and pitfalls," Goral said. "The format is unbalanced with playing the same team in the same location two days in a row instead of a home and home. This fall we play the top 3 teams from a year ago (Towson, Hofstra and Delaware) all on the road without the opportunity to host them in our arena. That is a huge challenge. The other piece is that the other teams in the conference are also strong. Anyone can win on a given night especially if we aren't focused. It's going to take a lot of mental fortitude and strategy to beat the same team on consecutive days. When it's all said and done, I think we'll be in position to be successful. It will be whether or not we take advantage of our experience."

The CAA Tournament will be held Nov. 16-19 at Towson, home of the 2022 conference regular season and tournament champion. The top eight league finishers qualify for postseason play.

The 2023 squad will be led by returning Big South Defensive Player of the Year Claranne Fechter and fellow first-team all-Big South member Melody Paige. Chloe Cook, Gwen Wolkow and Aley Clent all return after receiving postseason honors as well a season ago.

Follow @GoCamelsVB on social media for schedule updates, gameday promotions, and more throughout the year.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Melody Paige: MB; 6' 0"; Freshman; Legacy Volleyball Club

#3 Chloe Cook: OH; 5' 9"; Junior; TAV Houston

#1 Claranne Fechter: DS; 5' 9"; Junior; Mintonette Sports Volleyball Club

#22 Aley Clent: MB; 6' 5"; Freshman

#18 Gwen Wolkow: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Melody Paige
: 6' 0"; Freshman; Legacy Volleyball Club
: MB

#3 Chloe Cook
: 5' 9"; Junior; TAV Houston
: OH

#1 Claranne Fechter
: 5' 9"; Junior; Mintonette Sports Volleyball Club
: DS

#22 Aley Clent
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: MB

#18 Gwen Wolkow
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH