NC State Softball Announces 2016 Schedule

RALEIGH, N.C. – Following the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional appearance, NC State softball head coach Shawn Rychcik announced the Wolfpack's schedule for the 2016 season Monday. The fourth-year head coach has put together a very difficult slate in each of his seasons at the helm and the 2016 schedule will be no different.

The Wolfpack will face 13 opponents that earned a berth in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, highlighted by games against National Champion Florida and runner-up Michigan. In total, NC State will play 24 contests against teams that advanced to an NCAA Regional last season.

"We believe in playing a challenging schedule that will prepare us for the postseason," said Rychcik. "Our non-conference games will prepare us for the ACC season and our conference schedule will prepare us for the postseason."

NC State opens the season in Florida at a tournament hosted by Jacksonville. The Pack will take the field for the first time against Coastal Carolina Feb. 12 and return to the field later that day to take on Kansas. State will also take on UNCG and the host Dolphins before completing play in the tournament.

The Wolfpack will return home the following weekend (Feb. 19-21) as one of the host sites for the inaugural ACC/B1G Challenge. Nebraska and Wisconsin will represent the B1G, while ACC foe Louisville will also join the action in Raleigh. NC State and Louisville will each play Nebraska and Wisconsin twice, but not each other.

After hosting its first games of the season, NC State will make the trip across the country to California for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. At the tournament, the Wolfpack takes on Missouri, Florida, California, Stanford and Michigan.

NC State opens ACC play at home against Virginia Tech March 5. The squads will play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday. A home midweek non-conference tune-up versus Charlotte precedes the conference opener.

From March 11-13, the Wolfpack hosts the RDU Double Tree Challenge at Dail Stadium. Delaware State, Loyola-Chicago and Northern Illinois will join the Pack in a true round-robin tournament format with a champion to be named on the final day.

NC State and North Carolina were not scheduled to meet during the conference season, so the teams agreed to a non-conference matchup March 16. The contest will be played at UNC's Anderson Stadium.

The NC State Double Tree Invite will take place at Dail Stadium March 18-20. Bryant, IUPUI and Ohio are set to participate in the event along with the Wolfpack. It will also be a true round-robin tournament with a champion to be named on the final day.

The first ACC road trip of the season for the Pack will be to Kentucky to take on Louisville March 25 and 26. Following a home midweek contest against USC Upstate, NC State welcomes Pittsburgh to Dail Stadium April 2 and 3.

Boston College and Georgia Tech visit Raleigh on subsequent weekends, with the Eagles coming to town April 23 and the Yellow Jackets April 30.

Other conference road series include Florida State (April 9-10), Syracuse (April 16-17) and Notre Dame (May 7-8).

In non-conference midweek contests, NC State competes against East Carolina (March 22), Elon (April 6), Campbell for a doubleheader (April 13) and a single game at UNCG April 20.

NC State hosts the ACC Championship May 12-14 at Dail Stadium. It will be the first time the Wolfpack has hosted the event since 2009.

2015 NCAA Tournament Teams on the Wolfpack's Schedule
California
Florida
Florida State
Kansas
Louisville
Michigan
Missouri
Nebraska
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
USC Upstate
Virginia Tech

North Carolina State University Athletics

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