Florida Gulf Coast University will play 11 matches on its Alico Arena home court in a challenging volleyball season that begins Aug. 26-27 at North Carolina Central with one of three preseason tournaments.

The schedule, released Friday by the school, includes 16 non-conference games against schools from the Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA and Pac-12 conferences. Two of those games are against teams that finished in the top five in the final 2010 volleyball Rating Percentage Index (RPI) and five against teams in the top 100.

“We are really excited about our non-conference schedule this season,” said Eagles coach Dave Nichols. “It is a great blend of matches that will really challenge us. We play some outstanding in-state rivals, and we get the great exposure and experience of playing national powerhouses USC and Penn State. We think it is an entertaining, balanced schedule that will really prepare us for a strong conference run.”

The Eagles kick off the season on the road at the N.C. Central Tournament where they face Elon, Campbell and NCCU.

The Eagles make their home debut in the annual Homewood Suites Volleyball Invitational Sept. 2-3 with USC, UCF and Furman. USC, ranked No. 3 in the final AVCA Coaches poll, are coming off their sixth Final Four appearance in 11 years, thanks to a 29-5 overall record.

Appearances follow in tournaments at Miami (Ohio) and four-time defending national champion Penn State before settling in for their Atlantic Sun Conference campaign.

The A-Sun has created divisions among the 10 volleyball schools. The Eagles are in the southern division with Jacksonville, North Florida, Stetson and Mercer, playing each at home and away.

They face the other five conference teams only once, either at home or away.

Lipscomb will host the Atlantic Sun Championship from Nov. 17-19.