Only four of the seven Muhlenberg fall sports teams are in action this weekend, but they’re all at home – and so is one spring team.
Volleyball hosts Buttermaker Tournament (Friday vs. Penn State Abington, 3:00; Friday vs. Neumann, 7:00; Saturday opponents TBD, 10:00 and 2:00)
The 16th annual tournament will feature 18 matches among nine teams in a period of about 25 hours. Muhlenberg (2-2) is looking for its first Buttermaker title since 2005. Defending champion Salisbury has to be considered the favorite to repeat; the Seagulls (37-4 last year) come in ranked 22nd in the Division III preseason poll and are off to a 4-0 start. The Mules’ first two opponents have already been swept by Centennial Conference teams – Penn State Abington (0-3) by McDaniel and Neumann (1-3) by Haverford.
Tournament site: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/athletics/buttermaker/buttermaker13.html
Live stats (first three Mule matches): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/vblive/topview.htm
Live video (first three Mule matches): http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg
Football vs. The Apprentice School (Saturday, 1:00)
The Mules open their 112th season of football with their only non-conference game of the season. Last year, in the first meeting between the two schools, Muhlenberg fell into an early 7-0 hole before rallying to win, 27-7, en route to an 8-3 campaign that included a bid to the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. The Builders finished up at 2-8. Both teams will feature new faces on both sides of the ball. The Mules have won six of their last seven home openers, and when their first home game has been in the afternoon, they haven’t lost since 2003.
Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/livestats/xlive.htm
Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg
Men’s Soccer vs. Ithaca (Saturday, 4:00)
The last time these two teams squared off on Varsity Field, Muhlenberg won 4-0 in a 1995 NCAA Tournament quarterfinal match, earning a trip to its only “Final Four.” The teams didn’t play again until last season, when Ithaca made an early goal stand up in a 1-0 win. The Mules (2-1) are ranked ninth in the Mid-Atlantic Region and come in with two straight shutouts. The Bombers (0-2), the defending Empire 8 co-champions, took nationally ranked Oneonta State to overtime in their season opener.
Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/msoclive/xlive.htm
Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg
Women’s Soccer at Gwynedd-Mercy (Saturday, 12:00) and vs. Delaware Valley (Sunday, 2:00)
The Mules go back-to-back for the second straight weekend after losing a pair of matches to regionally ranked opponents last weekend. Last year, Muhlenberg played these teams in the opposite order, defeating Gwynedd-Mercy 1-0 in overtime a day after losing to Delaware Valley by the same score. Gwynedd is 0-2-1 to start the 2013 season, while DelVal is 1-1.
Live stats (Gwynedd-Mercy match): http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52208023/WS/xlive.htm
Live video (Gwynedd-Mercy match): http://gmcgriffins.nmtvsports.com/
Live stats (Delaware Valley match): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/wsoclive/xlive.htm
Live video (Delaware Valley match): http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg
Men’s Tennis hosts Mule Fall Classic (Sunday, 9:00)
The Mules welcome King’s, Moravian and Wilkes for their annual season-opening tournament.