The Central Michigan University volleyball team will play the home portion of its 2010 schedule, released over the weekend, at Finch Fieldhouse before the $21.5 million project is completed in November.

“We’ve developed a competition facility and a place for them to practice at,” said Athletic Director Dave Heeke. “It’s going to be more than adequate for the types of crowds they’ve had. It will serve our purposes very well.”

The team cannot begin practicing in Finch until Aug. 29, after the season has begun, and will alternate practices between Mount Pleasant High School and Morey Courts until then.

“It’s something we’re going to have to adapt to,” said head coach Erik Olson. “We’ve known we’re going to be displaced for some time and that’s why I’ve been scheduling a large non-conference schedule. We just don’t have to think about it and take control of what we can control.”

CMU will spend the first month of its season on the road, competing in four tournaments on four consecutive weekends beginning Aug. 27.

“We had a very young team in 2009, but I think it’s a good weekend to catch teams off guard,” Olson said. “That’s what we’re hoping to do with that Purdue tournament. It’s easily the hardest tournament I’ve had a team open up with since I’ve been at CMU.”

The Chippewas open Mid-American Conference on the road at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 23 before hosting MAC champions Ohio at Finch on Sept. 25. The Bobcats eliminated CMU in the MAC tournament semi-finals last season.

“I like to play Ohio early in the season because we ended with Ohio for about four or five seasons,” Olson said. “This year I think they’re going to be down and we’re going to be up. I like the timing of it all.”

The team plays four consecutive home games against Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Miami (OH) from Oct. 8-16.

CMU also hosts Eastern Michigan (Oct. 28), Toledo (Nov. 4) and Ball State (Nov. 6).

“We’re going to get to play at home a little more in the first half,” Olson said. “It’s a little bit tougher in the second half, but this is the year we get the toughest teams at home.”

The MAC tournament is Nov. 19-21 in Toledo, Ohio.

2010 Volleyball Schedule:

Purdue Mortar Board tournament Fri. Aug. 27 Northern Iowa Fri. Aug. 28 Purdue Fri. Aug. 28 Western Kentucky

Youngstown State Invitational Fri. Sept. 3 Youngstown State Sat. Sept. 4 Howard Sat. Sept. 4 Niagara

Fri. Sept. 10 @ Wisoncsin-Milwaukee

Marquette Invitational Sat. Sept. 11 Wisconsin Sat. Sept. 11 Creighton

College of Charleston Invitational Fri. Sept. 17 Radford Sat. Sept. 18 North Florida Sat. Sept. 18 College of Charleston

Thur. Sept. 23 @ Eastern Michigan Sat. Sept. 25 Ohio Fri. Oct. 1 @ Ball State Sat. Oct. 2 @ Toledo Fri. Oct. 8 Northern Illinois Sat. Oct. 9 Western Michigan Fri. Oct. 15 Bowling Green Sat. Oct. 16 Miami (OH) Fri. Oct. 22 @ Akron Sat. Oct. 23 @ Buffalo Thu. Oct. 28 Eastern Michigan Sat. Oct. 30 @ Kent State Thur. Nov. 4 Toledo Sat. Nov. 6 Ball State Fri. Nov. 12 @ Western Michigan Sat. Nov. 13 @ Northern Illinois Nov. 19-21 MAC Tournament (Toledo, Ohio) Sat. Nov. 27 @ Temple