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[BeckysTXA]

A couple more comments...there are no “bad” teams on this schedule. When we don’t control who gets invited to 3 of the 4 weekends, we always end up playing a couple very weak teams. Not with this schedule. That is strong. Everyone in the top third of the RPI. Here are their ending Figgiestat RPIs:

4 GA Tech - they did make the Elite 8 last year
20 FL St
24 ILL
29 Ball St
37 UD
53 Cincy
63 ILL St
69 Wright St
72 Wichita St
85 AZ St
117 Villanova
119 Mo St
127 FIU

Point of reference...highest 2 A10 opponents last year were 109 VCU and 188 SLU. This is a good schedule.

I also noticed the change in the conference travel. Some conference did this last year...maybe the Big10. Except Duquesne, we will play everyone in back-to-back double headers over 2 days. This will save money for the teams. I think parents will like it. They can travel to one location to see their daughter play two matches. I’m thinking this will increase our fans at away matches. Down side...no VCU or SLU match at Frerricks this year. Local fans will only see 5 A10 teams live. We get newcomer Loyola at home and will host UD Alum turned URI head coach Angle Agu. I think cost savings in scheduling is a thing that schools simply have to implement. This is a much better solution than cutting OOC matches.

	Rhode Island RHODE ISLAND The University of Rhode Island was chartered as the state's agricultural school in 1888. The school became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892. Located in southern Rhode Island, URI is a quintessential New England campus - rural in feeling yet close to the city of Providence, the state's capital. Linked to the city, the beaches, and nearly every corner of the state by both rail and public transit, the campus is easily accessible from Boston and New York URI currently offers 100 majors in seven degree-granting colleges. There are more than 12,000 students on the Kingston campus, about 3,000 in Providence, and a complement of about 700 faculty. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Rams.

	Duquesne DUQUESNE Duquesne University is a private, coeducational university, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania located on 48 secluded acres, on a bluff above downtown. Founded in 1878 as a Catholic college by the Order of the Holy Spirit. It is the only Spiritan institution of higher education in the world. Duquesne offers 10 schools of study and 100 degree programs to 6,000 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Dukes.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.