RICHMOND, Va. – Five NCAA Tournament participants, as well in-state foes Virginia and James Madison and an outstanding Atlantic 10 Conference slate, highlight VCU's 2021 schedule, released Wednesday.
 
The Rams, led by ninth-year Head Coach Jody Rogers, will begin their quest for a third NCAA Tournament berth in four years when it opens the 2021 campaign Aug. 27-29 at James Madison against a field that includes the host Dukes and NCAA qualifiers High Point and Illinois State.
 
VCU will also appear in non-conference tournaments at Florida State (FSU, Tulane, Samford) and UC Santa Barbara (UCSB, Washington State, Denver). The Rams will also play host to JMU, Virginia and defending Big Ten Champion Ohio State at the Stuart C. Siegel Center Sept. 9-11. Standalone non-conference match-ups at Pepperdine (Sept. 16) and against American (Oct. 20) are also on the docket.
 
The Black and Gold will open A-10 play Sept. 24 when they host Fordham on Sept. 25 at the Siegel Center. VCU will rekindle its rivalry with Dayton on Friday, Oct. 8 at the Frericks Center and on Friday, Oct. 22 in Richmond. The Rams and Flyers have met in the A-10 Championship Match each of the past four seasons.
 
The A-10 Tournament will be held Nov. 19-20. A host site has not yet been named for that championship.
 
2021 VCU VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
 
DATE               OPPONENT                             LOCATION                         TIME
Aug. 27            vs. Illinois State                       Harrisonburg, Va.             1:30 p.m.
Aug. 28            vs. High Point                          Harrisonburg, Va.             12:30 p.m.
Aug. 29            at James Madison                   Harrisonburg, Va.             3 p.m.
Sept. 2             vs. Tulane                                Tallahassee, Fla.                11 a.m.
Sept. 2             vs. Samford                             Tallahassee, Fla.                4 p.m.
Sept. 3             at Florida State                       Tallahassee, Fla.                6:30 p.m.
Sept. 9             JAMES MADISON                   Siegel Center                    5 p.m.
Sept. 10           VIRGINIA                                 Siegel Center                    5 p.m.
Sept. 11           OHIO STATE                            Siegel Center                    9 a.m.
Sept. 16           at Pepperdine                         Malibu, Calif.                     8 p.m.
Sept. 17           at UC Santa Barbara               Santa Barbara, Calif.         9 p.m.
Sept. 18           vs. Washington State              Santa Barbara, Calif.         1 p.m.
Sept. 18           vs. Denver                               Santa Barbara, Calif.         7:30 p.m.
Sept. 24           *FORDHAM                            Siegel Center                    5 p.m.
Sept. 25           *RHODE ISLAND                     Siegel Center                    5 p.m.
Sept. 26           *SAINT LOUIS                         Siegel Center                    1 p.m.
Oct. 1              *GEORGE MASON                  Siegel Center                    6 p.m.
Oct. 3              *GEORGE WASHINGTON       Siegel Center                    1 p.m.
Oct. 8              *at Dayton                              Dayton, Ohio                     6 p.m.
Oct. 9              *at Duquesne                         Pittsburgh, Pa.                  5 p.m.
Oct. 15            *at Saint Louis                        St. Louis, Mo.                    8 p.m.
Oct. 20            AMERICAN                              Siegel Center                    6 p.m.
Oct. 22            *DAYTON                                Siegel Center                    6 p.m.
Oct. 24            *DUQUESNE                           Siegel Center                    1 p.m.
Oct. 29            *at Davidson                           Davidson, N.C.                  6 p.m.
Oct. 31            *DAVIDSON                            Siegel Center                    1 p.m.
Nov. 5              *at Rhode Island                     Kinston, R.I.                       5 p.m.
Nov. 6              *at Fordham                           Bronx, N.Y.                        5 p.m.
Nov. 12            *at George Washington         Washington, D.C.              6 p.m.
Nov. 13            *at George Mason                  Fairfax, Va.                        6 p.m.
Nov. 19-20      A-10 Tournament                   TBD                                   TBD
 
* - Atlantic 10 Conference match
Home matches in BOLD and played at the Stuart C. Siegel Center
 
All times listed Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Match dates and times subject to change