Top squads to test UM volleyball team Bears land recruit from Spokane, Wash.

Penn State University, which hosted one of four NCAA East Regional volleyball tournaments last season, and perennial NCAA tournament team Colorado will travel to the University of Maine in Orono for the Sea-Sun Invitational on Aug. 29-31.

That will be one of the highlights on the Black Bear schedule.

Penn State was the 13th seed in the 64-team field and was making its second NCAA tourney appearance in four years. The Nittany Lions finished 16th in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.

Colorado had a string of 11 consecutive NCAA postseason appearances snapped last season.

The University of Rhode Island and Southeast Missouri State will also participate in the tournament.

Maine will face all four teams in the round robin affair.

“The Sea-Sun Invitational will be a great opportunity to showcase some of the best volleyball in the country,” said Maine coach Sue Medley. “We really wanted to bring this level of play to the state of Maine to give fans an opportunity to see some nationally prominent programs. It’s a great way for our team to kick off the season, facing some of the toughest teams we’ll see all season.”

The Bears will host another tournament, the Maine Invitational, on Sept., 19-20 with Denver, the University of Connecticut and Yale University in the field.

“Yale, Denver and UConn have a great history in volleyball and we’re excited to have them on our home court,” Medley said.

Maine will hit the road to play in four tournaments: the Sacred Heart Invitational (Conn.) on Sept. 5-6, the Portland State Invitational (Ore.) on Sept. 12-13, the UConn Autumn Classic on Sept. 26-27 and the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawk Challenge on Oct. 3-4.

Maine opens its America East schedule against defending America East champ and NCAA Tournament team New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Bears land volleyball recruit

Jody Connacher, who played for the Spokane Splash/Adidas volleyball club (Wash.) that finished 15th overall in the prestigious Volleyball Festival Tournament in Sacramento, Calif., has been accepted to the University of Maine and will play volleyball for the Black Bears.

Connacher captained the John R. Rogers High School team in Spokane that won the district championship.

Connacher registered 87 digs, 97 kills, 11 blocks and 22 aces last season.

“Jody Connacher is a great addition to our program,” said Medley. “She is a great ball control player with a fierce competitive attitude. She plays with tremendous energy and we expect her to make an immediate contribution.”

Connacher will join her former John R. Rogers High School teammate Shelly Seipp, Van Nuys, Cal. native Brooke Truong and Justine Chabot from Saskatoon, Saskatchewn in the recruiting class.

Maine will try to improve upon last year’s 9-21 record (3-9 in America East).