ODU sked: No Tennessee

No orange on ODU's schedule

Old Dominion released its non conference schedule on Wednesday, and just as many fans have speculated, one opponent is missing: Tennessee. The Lady Monarchs have played the Lady Vols 43 times over the years and every year since 1985. The home-and-home series, though not overly competitive of late, had been one of the staples of the program under former coach Wendy Larry.

Coach Karen Barefoot is looking to rebuild a program that will have a whole new look in 2011-12 thanks to the addition of key recruits Stephanie Gardner, Shae Kelly, Chelisa Painter -- all transfers -- and an impressive freshman class that includes highly touted Galaisha Goodhope from Princess Anne High in Virginia Beach and LaQuandra Younger of Warwick High in Newport News. (Gardner is eligible the second semester; Painter is not eligible until next season, all due to NCAA transfer rules.) Barefoot has put together a schedule that reflects that with seven home games and first-ever meetings with foes including USC Upstate.

ODU's largest test will come in the Dec. 19-21 Las Vegas tournament "Duel of the Desert," which includes Notre Dame, Texas A&M,  Kansas State, UNLV and Alabama State.  ODU opens with UNLV with the winner meeting the winner of Kansas State/Texas A&M. ODU will play three games in the event.

ODU also plays Cal at home (will the Lady Bears travel to Charlottesville, we wonder?)

Home games include Dartmouth, NC Central, Maryland-Eastern Shore and now A-10 foe VCU should give this young team a chance to go into conference play in January with a winning record. The caveat: ODU cannot win the CAA this year, as the Lady Monarchs are making the move to Conference USA next season. That means an at-large bid is the only chance ODU has at the postseason.

The Lady Monarchs open the season on Nov. 9 at Virginia Tech and host USC Upstate in their home opener on Nov. 13.

The Constant Center is also host to an NCAA regional March 31 and April 2.