Season Opens This Weekend

PROVO -- The BYU men's volleyball team will open its 2003 season with two matches against Red Deer College on Friday and Saturday, January 10-11, in the Smith Fieldhouse. The matches this weekend mark the beginning of a new era under new head coach Tom Peterson, who takes over after Carl McGown's fourteen years at the helm.

Red Deer College is a member of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and has won the National Canadian Colleges Athletic Association championship each of the past three years. The Kings are currently ranked #1 in Canada and hold a 10-0 record in league play.

"Red Deer College is a very good team," BYU head coach Tom Peterson said. "Our main goal with this match is to make sure we are ready for conference play, but it should be an exciting match."

The Cougars will officially begin conference play next week on the road, playing two matches each against top-ranked Stanford and the University of the Pacific in just five days.

Friday's match against Red Deer College starts at 7 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse. Saturday's match will be held at 4 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse. Tickets are available for $5 at the door starting an hour and a half before game time or at the Marriott Center Ticket Office, (801)378-BYU1.