VERMILLION, S.D. - South Dakota volleyball coach Matt Houk has announced the Coyotes' 2012 season schedule. The 28-match campaign includes eight home contests along with three tournaments.

The 2012 season will mark South Dakota's first season of eligibility for the Summit League and NCAA tournaments. The top four teams in the Summit League regular-season standings earn a trip to the postseason conference tournament, with the winner of the event earning the league's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

South Dakota, entering its fifth season under Houk's guidance, opens the season on Aug. 24-25 at the Alabama State tournament in Montgomery, Ala. The Coyotes will face Tennessee State, Stetson, Jacksonville State and Southeastern Louisiana at the event.

A week later, the Coyotes will head north to compete at the North Dakota tournament on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Grand Forks, N.D. The Coyotes will square off against UND, Stephen F. Austin and Green Bay at the tournament.

The Coyotes' final pre-conference tournament is set for Sept. 7-8 at the Central Arkansas tournament in Conway, Ark. The Coyotes will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Central Arkansas, Jacksonville State and Jackson State during the two-day tournament.

South Dakota opens Summit League play on Sept. 14 at Western Illinois, with another match at IUPUI set for the next night. The Coyotes' home debut is set for Friday, Sept. 21 against IPFW, and they will follow with a home match against Oakland on Sept. 23.

After a brief trip out of conference to face Creighton on Sept. 25, the Coyotes will return home on Sept. 29 to face Summit League foe UMKC. South Dakota returns to the road on Oct. 5 to play at North Dakota State, and follows with a match at in-state rival South Dakota State the next day.

The Coyotes return home for matches against IUPUI (Oct. 12) and Western Illinois (Oct. 14) before going on the road to play at Oakland (Oct. 19) and IUPUI (Oct. 20). South Dakota plays host to Nebraska-Omaha on Oct. 22 and closes out the month of October at UMKC on Oct. 26.

The home season concludes for the Coyotes on Nov. 2 and 4 when they play host to SDSU and NDSU, respectively. The regular-season concludes on Nov. 10 at Nebraska-Omaha.

The Summit League tournament, with the site to be determined, will be Nov. 16-17.