PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley volleyball team will open the 2011 season at home for the third consecutive year when the Braves host the CEFCU Classic Friday and Saturday to kick off the year.  BU will face Nebraska-Omaha Friday at 7 p.m. in the season opener and will play a pair of matches Saturday during tournament play.

This weekend's contests mark the debut for first-year Bradley volleyball head coach Jenny Maurer, who spent the previous four seasons at Lehigh.  Maurer's first Bradley squad features 11 of 14 letterwinners from 2010, including five starters from last year's team which won three of the final four home matches.

The CEFCU Classic is entering its third year and will be the Braves' lone home tournament this fall after hosting two tournaments each of the past two seasons. 

The tournament begins Friday at 2:30 p.m. with Nebraska-Omaha taking on Illinois-Chicago.  Bradley's season opener against Nebraska-Omaha at 7 p.m. concludes the first day of play and the same teams (BU and UNO) will open Saturday's action with an 11 a.m. match.  The Braves close out the tournament Saturday at 4 p.m. against Illinois-Chicago.

Bradley students are invited to a Season Kickoff Party Friday at 5:30 p.m. prior to BU's season opener at the Renaissance Coliseum main enterance.  Red Sea members will be able to pick up their membership packets and individuals with their Red Sea shirt or card will receive free food from Avanti's (while supplies last).  Students will be able to sign up for the Red Sea prior to Friday's volleyball match. 

Following Saturday's 4 p.m. matchup with Illinois-Chicago the Bradley volleyball team will be signing autographs in the the Renaissance Coliseum's Nick & Nancy Owens Atrium. 

Season tickets are available at the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office and are $50 for adults or $25 for children (K-12).  Single game tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children.