The schedule will feature 16 non-conference matches and 12 Colonial Athletic Association contests for Bambenek and her squad. Among the highlights are meetings with seven Tar Heel state programs, including Atlantic Coast Conference foes N.C. State and Wake Forest, and contests against 2011 NCAA Tournament participants Delaware and Morehead State.

"I'm looking forward to the start of our season next month," said Bambenek. "Our 2012 schedule will allow us to have some success, but will also give us the opportunity to face some challenges, and hopefully that combination will allow us to continue our upward trend as a program and in the CAA standings"

UNCW opens the regular season at Hanover Hall with the first of four regular-season tournaments, the UNCW Courtyard Wilmington Beach Bash (Aug. 24-25). The Seahawks entertain Delaware State, Long Island and High Point in the two-day event.

A visit from longtime rival Campbell (Aug. 28) brings UNCW's season-opening home stand to a close. The  Seahawks then embark on a 10-match road swing that begins with contests against Davidson, host Wake Forest and Winthrop at the Deacon Invitational (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) and continues at the Spartan Classic (Sept. 7-8). UNCW will face host Norfolk State, Rutgers and Stetson on its two-day trip to Norfolk, Va.

UNCW will take a break from its tournament schedule to square off against N.C. State (Sept. 11) before heading to the triad to face Morehead State, host UNC Greensboro and Youngstown State at the Spartan Spiketacular (Sept. 14-15).

A mid-week match against The Citadel (Sept. 18) marks the return of the Seahawks to Hanover Hall for the first time in 21 days, while a home date with William and Mary (Sept. 22) kicks off CAA play. The September slate ends with road matchups against Hofstra (Sept. 28) and Northeastern (Sept. 30).

October begins with home contests against Delaware (Oct. 5) and Towson (Oct. 7) and continues with back-to-back road trips to Georgia State (Oct. 13) and William and Mary (Oct. 20). A non-conference pairing against North Carolina Central (Oct. 23) begins a four-match home stand before George Mason (Oct. 26), James Madison (Oct. 28) and Hofstra (Nov. 2) serve as the final three home opponents for the Seahawks.

The regular season concludes with trips to Towson (Nov. 8) and Delaware (Nov. 10).

The 2012 CAA Volleyball Championship will be held Nov. 15-17 at the home of the regular season champion. The top six teams eligible for the tournament will take part in the three-day event.