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[vb] Lobos Picked 4th in the MWC Preseason Poll

 

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[vb] Lobos Picked 4th in the MWC Preseason Poll

 

Senior captain Jade Michaelsen named to MWC Preseason Team

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- The University of New Mexico volleyball team has been picked fourth in the 2010 Mountain West Conference Preseason Volleyball Poll.  Senior team captain Jade Michaelsen was named to the MWC Preseason Team for the second season in a row.  Colorado State and MWC Preseason Player of the Year Danielle Minch were picked to win the league title in 2010.  The Rams earned 134 points and 15 of the 16 first-place votes.

 

UNM also received votes in the 2010 American Volleyball Coaches Association National Preseason Poll released this afternoon.  The Lobos picked up 15 points.

UNM earned 96 points from the voting panel of coaches, SIDs and selected media, just eight points from second place.  Utah, in their final season in the MWC, was picked second with 104 points, followed by TCU in third with 99 points.  BYU was picked fifth with 85 points and one first-place vote while San Diego State was selected sixth.  Wyoming, UNLV and Air Force round out the poll in seventh, eighth and ninth.

 

Michaelsen, a two-time All-MWC setter, joins six others on the preseason team.  Michaelsen is closing in on the UNM all-time career assists record.  In three seasons as the Lobos’ starting setter, Michaelsen has accumulated 3,087 assists and needs 708 assists to pass up Janelle Torres (3,794; 1996-99).

 

The Lobos will host an Alumni match on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Johnson Center.  Lobo head coach Jeff Nelson will host a courtside season preview chat following the match between the alumni and the 2010 Lobos.  Regular season action begins on Friday, Aug. 27 against Pepperdine at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of the MCM Elegante Lobo Classic.  UNM will host Tulane on Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. in the second round and No. 4-ranked Stanford on Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. in the final match of the tournament.

 

2010 MWC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll

Rank – Team – Points (1^st place votes)

1.  Colorado State – 134 (15)

2.  Utah – 104

3.  TCU – 99

4.  New Mexico – 96

5.  BYU – 85 (1)

6.  San Diego State – 62

7.  Wyoming – 43

8.  UNLV – 36

9.  Air Force – 16

 

2010 MWC Preseason Team

Player – Position – Class – Team

Danielle Minch, OH, Sr., Colorado State

Jade Michaelsen, S, Sr., New Mexico

Lauren Salisbury, MB, Sr., San Diego State

Karolina Bartkowiak, OPP, Sr., Utah

Jodi Purdy, OH, So., Wyoming

Setter:  Evan Sanders, Jr., Colorado State

Libero:  Keisha Fisher, Sr., Utah

 

Preseason Player of the Year: Danielle Minch, Colorado State

 

 

 

Iowa State Volleyball Team Opens 2010 Ranked No. 9 In Coaches Poll

 

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Iowa State Volleyball Team Opens 2010 Ranked No. 9 In Coaches Poll

 

 

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State volleyball team is ranked No. 9 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll. The Cyclones are one of three Big 12 teams ranked in the top-10 of the poll, coming in behind No. 2 Nebraska and No. 3 Texas.

 

Iowa State will play seven matches against teams ranked in the top-25. The Cyclones open the season Saturday, Aug. 28 against No. 13 Florida, before facing No. 14 Kentucky the following day at the Runza/AVCA Showcase in Omaha, Neb.

 

On Wednesday, Sept. 8 Iowa State hosts No. 24 Northern Iowa. The Cyclones also play two matches against Nebraska and Texas during the Big 12 schedule.

 

The Cyclones return all but one starter from last year’s Sweet 16 team, including AVCA All-Americans Victoria Henson and Ashley Mass.

 

Henson, Mass and Rachel Hockaday were named to the preseason All-Big 12 team.

 

Iowa State also welcomes the nation’s 16th-ranked recruiting class.

 

AVCA Division I Coaches Top-25 Preseason Poll

1. Penn State (40)

2. Nebraska (16)

3. Texas (4)

4. Stanford

5. Hawai’i

6. Illinois

    Minnesota

8. Washington

9. Iowa State

10. Southern California

11. California

12. Michigan

13. Florida

14. Kentucky

15. Florida State

16. UCLA

17. Colorado State

18. Arizona

19. Tennessee

20. Oregon

21. Dayton

22. San Diego

23. LSU

24. Northern Iowa

25. St. Mary’s (Calif.)

 

Others receiving votes and appearing on two or more ballots: Long Beach State, Baylor, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Duke, Cincinnati, UC Santa Barbara, Utah, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, Notre Dame, Ohio, Saint Louis, New Mexico, New Mexico State, San Diego State, Georgia Tech, Rice, Michigan State, Santa Clara, Wisconsin, Wichita State, Florida International, Missouri State.

Pepperdine Women's Volleyball Team Picked Third in WCC Preseason Poll

 

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Pepperdine Women's Volleyball Team Picked Third in WCC Preseason Poll

				PEPPERDINE WOMENS VOLLEYBALL TEAM PICKED THIRD IN WCC PRESEASON POLL Waves predicted to finish third in league standings; Kim Hill named to preseason all-conference team. MALIBU, Calif. – The Pepperdine women’s volleyball team was predicted to record its 21st top-three finish in the West Coast Conference standings today in a preseason vote by the league’s coaches.  2009 AVCA All-American honorable mention selection and All-WCC first teamer Kim Hill was named to the preseason all-conference squad. The Waves, who received one first-place vote and tallied 36 points overall, return five starters, three of which appeared on last season’s all-conference team, including Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS).  As a sophomore, Hill led the WCC with a .425 hitting percentage and ranked fifth nationally. Also returning to the Pepperdine lineup is Victoria Adelhelm (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Santa Fe Christian HS), who earned All-WCC honorable mention accolades and was named to the WCC All-Freshman team after finishing fifth in the conference with a .330 clip. The Wave’s offensive threat continues with the return of junior outside hitter Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Connelly HS).  As a sophomore, Frederick ranked third on the team in both kills (266) and digs (242). In the backcourt, two-time All-WCC honorable mention awardee Stevi Robinson (Hermosa Beach, Calif./Mira Costa HS) enters the 2010 campaign with a Pepperdine all-time best 4.74 digs-per-set average.  Her 4.67 average from the 2009 season ranked third in the league. San Diego edged Saint Mary’s for the top spot on the preseason poll, receiving six first-place votes and 48 points overall.  Santa Clara was picked to finish fourth behind the Waves, followed by San Francisco, Gonzaga, Portland and Loyola Marymount. San Diego and Saint Mary’s collected three preseason all-conference selections apiece, while Pepperdine, Santa Clara, San Francisco and Portland each tallied one. The Waves open the 2010 season on Friday, Aug. 27 when they travel to Albuquerque, N.M. for the MCM Elegante Lobo Classic.  All three opponents, New Mexico, Stanford and Tulane, made the NCAA Tournament in 2009.  Pepperdine, who went 16-11 and 9-5 in the WCC last season, has its first home matches on Sept. 3-4, when the Waves host the Asics Classic at the Firestone Fieldhouse.   2010 WCC Preseason Poll 1. San Diego 48 (6) 2. Saint Mary’s 43 (1) 3. Pepperdine 36 (1) 4. Santa Clara 33 5. San Francisco 23 6. Gonzaga 18 7. Portland 12 8. Loyola Marymount 11 2010 WCC Preseason All-Conference Team Name (School) Lauren Corp (Saint Mary’s) Amy DeGroot (San Diego) Kim Hill (Pepperdine) Kapua Kamana’o, Saint Mary’s Dana Knudsen (Santa Clara) Shannon Lowell, Saint Mary’s Sarah Mandala, San Francisco KelsI Myers (San Diego) Ali Troost (San Diego) Ariel Usher (Portland)   -Pepperdine-

Arkansas State Red Wolves Volleyball Team Picked Second in Preseason Coaches’ Poll

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Arkansas State Red Wolves Volleyball Team Picked Second in Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Fielder Earns Second Preseason All-SBC Honor JONESBORO, Ark. (8/26/10) — The Arkansas State volleyball team was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division preseason poll, the league announced Thursday morning, and ASU’s Cayla Fielder was named to the preseason All-SBC team, as voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches. The Red Wolves received 57 points in the poll with four first place votes, while Denver topped the West Division with 68 points. Middle Tennessee totaled 66 points to land as the favorite in the East Division just three points ahead of Florida International. Fielder’s selection to the preseason All-SBC team marks the second of her career. She was named to the All-SBC First Team following the 2009 season, after leading the Red Wolves in kills (373), hitting percentage (.341) and total blocks (128), including a team-high 33 unassisted. Fielder was named the 2008 Freshman of the Year and earned Second Team All-SBC honors that same season. “We feel honored to have received some first place votes and to have a player recognized on the preseason All-Sun Belt team,” said ASU head coach Justin Ingram. “A lot of that recognition has to do with what we did last season, and we’ll have to work extremely hard to repeat as Division Champions. Great things are happening at practice, and we are anxious to get started.” A-State opens the 2010 season Friday, Aug. 27 when they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at noon and Northwestern State at 7:00 p.m. in the ASU Invitational at the HPESS facility on the ASU campus. Louisiana Tech will face Northwestern State in the opening match of the tournament at 10:00 a.m., while UAPB and Louisiana Tech will meet on the hardwood at 5:00 p.m. PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL EAST 1. Middle Tennessee - 66 points (6 first place votes) 2. FIU - 63 points (5 first place votes) 3. WKU - 51 points (1 first place vote) 4. Troy - 28 points 5. Florida Atlantic, South Alabama - 22 points WEST 1. Denver - 68 points (8 first place votes) 2. Arkansas State - 57 points (4 first place votes) 3. UALR - 47 points 4. North Texas - 43 points 5. Louisiana-Lafayette - 24 points 6. Louisiana-Monroe - 13 points PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAM Natalia Valentin, FIU Izabela Kozon, Middle Tennessee Cayla Fielder, Arkansas State Jovana Bjelica, FIU Stacy Oladinni, Middle Tennessee Maria Szivos, Middle Tennessee Tiffany Elmore, WKU Kacie Wikierak, Denver Preseason Defensive Player of the Year > Kacie Wikierak, Denver Preseason Player of the Year > Natalia Valentin, FIU

Texas Volleyball Team Ranked No. 2 in Volleyball Magazine Preseason Poll

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Texas Volleyball Team Ranked No. 2 in Volleyball Magazine Preseason Poll

 

Volleyball ranked No. 2 in Volleyball Magazine Preseason Poll

After reaching the NCAA Finals in 2009, Texas debuts at No. 2 in the Volleyball Magazine Preseason Poll.
AUSTIN, Texas - After finishing 29-2 and making a trip to the NCAA Finals in 2009, the Texas Volleyball team enters the 2010 campaign ranked No. 2 in the Volleyball Magazine Preseason Top 20 poll. Head coach Jerritt Elliott's Longhorns will face five of the preseason Top 20 squads a total of seven times this season.  The poll voting body is comprised of head coaches, members of the media and sports information directors from around the country.
Penn State, the three-time defending NCAA Champion, comes in at the top spot in the poll. Hawaii ranks third after finishing as an NCAA Semifinalist in 2009, while Nebraska ranks fourth and Stanford weighs in at No. 5. Rounding out the Top 10 are No. 6 Minnesota, No. 7 Illinois, No. 8 Iowa State, No. 9 California and No. 10 Washington.
Texas will square off with No. 5 Stanford, either No. 1 Penn State or No. 14 Florida and No. 7 Illinois in non-conference action and in Big 12 play, the Longhorns will meet No. 4 Nebraska and No. 8 Iowa State twice each.
Earlier this week the Longhorns earned a No. 3 ranking in the AVCA Coaches Preseason Poll.
The Horns open the season on Friday, Aug. 27 when they play host to TCU at the Burnt Orange Classic.

Volleyball Magazine Preseason Top 20

 

1.   Penn State
2.   Texas
3.   Hawaii
4.   Nebraska
5.   Stanford
6.   Minnesota
7.   Illinois
8.   Iowa State
9.   Cal
10.  Washington
11.  Southern California
12.  Michigan
13.  Kentucky
14.  Florida
15.  Colorado State
16.  Florida State
17.  UCLA
18.  Arizona
19.  LSU
20.  San Diego

UMKC Volleyball Team: ‘Roos Tabbed Third In Summit League Preseason Poll

UMKC Volleyball Team: ‘Roos Tabbed Third In Summit League Preseason Poll

 

Kansas City, Mo. – The UMKC volleyball team was picked to finish third in The Summit League preseason poll, the league office announced on Thursday morning.  The ‘Roos, who return five starters from their 2009 squad, finished with 54 points in a voting of a league’s 10 head coaches.
 
North Dakota State was the unanimous vote as the preseason favorite for the second straight season, earning nine first place votes and finishing with 81 points.  2009 Summit League Tournament champion IPFW earned the final first place tally and finished second with 64 points.  Oakland was fourth, behind UMKC, with 53 points, followed by South Dakota State (49), IUPUI (47), Oral Roberts (39), Southern Utah (35), Western Illinois (19) and Centenary (9).
 
The ‘Roos, who are coming off their first post season appearance since 2003, return five starters, highlighted by second team all-league selection and Summit League blocking leader Christiana McQuin.  UMKC also returns five of its top six kill leaders from the 2009 season, which includes juniors Kelsey Knoche, Elizabeth Beck and Brittany Fossier along with sophomore Ella Meier.  The ‘Roos also welcome back their top two setters in Erin Wellwood and Holly Schmidt along with Libero, Nicole Kerkman.
 
The Bison return their entire starting line-up and the League’s best attack arsenal headed by reigning two-time Player of the Year Chrissy Knuth who led the league with a .373 hitting percentage.  The Mastodons, meanwhile, return five of their six starters including second team all-league hitter Maya Schlindwein. Schlindwein was second on her team in kills (320) and kills per set (2.67) in 2009.
 
Oakland was picked fourth with 53 points and returns all six starters including all-freshman honorees Meghan Bray and Brittany Holbrook, who both ranked in top-10 of at least one league hitting categories.
South Dakota State welcomes back two of their top three hitters, first team all-league selection Ellyce Youngren and all-freshman honoree Kaitlin Klingemann. Youngren was second on the team with 281 kills, averaging 2.87 kills per set, while Klingemann tallied 173 kills, third best on the team.
 
After losing four starters, IUPUI will look to second-team all-league selection Kalyse Reimbold to lead the squad. Reimbold led the Jags in kills (386) and kills per set (3.45). Oral Roberts returns four starters, including all-freshman honoree Joana Gruber. Gruber was second in kills (220) and kills per set (2.62) for the Golden Eagles.
 
Southern Utah welcomes back all of their starters including Freshman of the Year Analaine Pelaez. Pelaez not only led the Thunderbirds, but the entire League averaging 4.35 kills per set during her rookie season.  Western Illinois is led by Cait Egan who tallied a team-high 351 kills, averaging 3.03 kills per set, while Centenary returns Jaclyn Lopez, who ranked first in the league for service aces (43, averaging 0.47 per set) and Shelby Singleton, who had a team-high .302 hitting percentage, third best in the league.
 
The top four teams in the regular season standings will compete for The Summit League Volleyball Championship at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse in Fargo, N.D., Nov. 19-20. The tournament champion will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship.
 
UMKC will get its 2010 season underway on Saturday when it host the Alumni Challenge in an exhibition at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Swinney Recreation Center. The squad will kick-off its regular season when it heads to Arkansas for the Arkansas Invitational on Aug. 27-28.

2010 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Poll
1.    North Dakota State    81 pts. (9)
2. IPFW    64 pts. (1)
3. UMKC    54 pts.
4. Oakland 53 pts.
5. South Dakota State    49 pts.
6. IUPUI    47 pts.
7. Oral Roberts 39 pts.
8. Southern Utah 35 pts.
9. Western Illinois 19 pts.
10. Centenary 9 pts.

IPFW Women's Volleyball Team Picked Second in Preseason Poll

IPFW Women's Volleyball Team Picked Second in Preseason Poll

 

Elmhurst, IL - The reigning Summit League Tournament Champion IPFW Mastodons were picked to finish second in the league according to the Preseason Coaches Poll.

Defending regular season champion North Dakota State was the unanimous choice to win the 2010 crown, picking up 81 points and nine first place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams). IPFW's 64 points one one remaining first-place vote put them securely in second place, with four schools; UMKC (54), Oakland (53), South Dakota State (49), and IUPUI (47), fighting it out for third place in the preseason polls.

Oral Roberts and Southern Utah were picked to finish seventh and eighth, with 39 and 35 points, respectively, as Western Illinois (19), and Centenary (9) round out the ten teams in the conference.

IPFW welcomes back five of six starters, including Maya Schlindwein, who was named to the All-League Second Team last season, Taryn Parker, Stephanie Lamberti, Alli Hook, and Megan Steenhuysen.

The top four teams in the regular season standings will compete for The Summit League Volleyball Championship at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse in Fargo, ND, November 19-20. The tournament champion will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship.

The 'Dons open their 2010 season at home on August 27 when the squad hosts the University of Tulsa in the first round of the IPFW Invitational.
 
 

COLORADO STATE SELECTED AS FAVORITE TO WIN 2010 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TITLE

COLORADO STATE SELECTED AS FAVORITE TO WIN

2010 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TITLE

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A voting panel comprised of the nine Mountain West Conference head volleyball coaches and selected media chose defending league champion Colorado State as the favorite to win the 2010 MWC regular season title. The Rams collected 15 first-place votes and 134 total points. Utah was selected to finish second with 104 points, while TCU was picked third, totaling 99 points. New Mexico received 96 points for fourth place in the poll, while BYU (85 points, one first-place vote) and San Diego State (62 points) claimed fifth and sixth place, respectively, followed by Wyoming (seventh, 43 points), UNLV (eighth, 36 points) and Air Force (ninth, 16 points).

 

Colorado State’s Danielle Minch, the 2009 MWC Player of the Year, highlights the preseason all-Mountain West Conference team as she was tabbed the 2010 Preseason Player of the Year. Five institutions were represented on the 2010 preseason all-MWC squad, which also was chosen by the coaches and selected media.

 

The 2010 season will see 10 all-Mountain West Conference players returning, including Minch and 2009 Freshman of the Year Jodi Purdy (Wyoming). Last season, Minch led the league in kills per set in overall and Conference matches (3.80). She also ranked second in the MWC in kills (3.77) and points per set (4.16) in overall matches, and finished Conference play ranked third in points per set (4.16). Minch also tallied double-digit kills in 23 matches last season. Purdy finished the 2009 campaign ranked third in kills per set (3.43) and fourth in points per set (3.90) in overall matches. In league play, Purdy ranked fourth in kills per set (3.32) and fourth in points per set (3.71). Megan Plourde (R-So., MB)  and Evan Sanders (Jr., S) will also return for Colorado State, while Taylor Hadfield (Sr., MB) and Jade Michaelsen (Sr., S) return to New Mexico’s squad. Plourde ranked fourth in the league in hitting percentage (.331) in overall matches last season, while finishing sixth in blocks per set (1.08), and Sanders was second in the MWC in assists per set (11.38) in all matches. Hadfield finished 2009 MWC play seventh in kills per set (2.98) and points per set (3.41), and ninth in hitting percentage (.303), while Michaelsen ranked third in assists per set (10.26) in overall matches. San Diego State’s Lauren Salisbury (Sr., MB), TCU’s Christy Hudson (Sr., RS/MB) and Megan Munce (Jr., S), and Utah’s Karolina Bartkowiak (Sr., Opp.) round out the all-Conference returnee list for 2010. Salisbury ranked second in hitting percentage (.353) in overall matches last season, while Hudson finished ninth in hitting efficiency (.297), and Munce led the Conference in service aces per set (0.42) and was fourth in assists per set (9.94). Bartkowiak was sixth in kills per set (3.04) and points per set (3.59) in overall contests in 2009.

 

The 2010 season is set to begin Friday, August 27, with all nine league teams in action. Conference play begins on Thursday, September 23, with San Diego State hosting New Mexico and Utah entertaining Wyoming.

 

 

 

2010 PRESEASON ALL-MWC TEAM

  Player   Cl. Pos.   Team

  Danielle Minch     Sr. OH    CSU

  Jade Michaelsen   Sr. S     UNM

  Lauren Salisbury Sr. MB    SDSU

  Karolina Bartkowiak   Sr. OPP Utah

  Jodi Purdy      So.     OH    WYO

 

Setter:  Evan Sanders      Jr.   CSU

  Libero:  Keisha Fisher   Sr. Utah

 

  Preseason Player of the Year: 

  Danielle Minch, Colorado State

 

 

2010 PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL COACHES’ POLL

    Pl.    Team (1^st place votes)   Points

    1. Colorado State (15)     134

    2. Utah    104          

    3. TCU        99

    4. New Mexico   96

    5.     BYU (1)     85

    6. San Diego State       62

    7. Wyoming         43

    8. UNLV        36

    9. Air Force      16

 

 

 

Florida State Volleyball Team Ranked 15th in American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll

Florida State Volleyball Team Ranked 15^th in American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll

Ranking marks the highest preseason spot in school history

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida State University volleyball team has been ranked 15^th in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, announced by the 29-year organization.

 

The accolade comes directly after FSU’s first-place prediction in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Poll, where it tied with Duke for the top spot. The Seminoles’ previous highest ranking in the preseason AVCA poll came in 1998, when they earned a No. 24 spot and won their first ACC championship.

 

FSU is the lone ACC team ranked in the AVCA poll, although Duke and Georgia Tech are both receiving votes.

 

The Seminoles have spent 28 weeks in the national poll in their history, with 14 coming in last year’s record-breaking campaign. FSU’s 15 consecutive weeks in the national poll shatter its previous mark of nine in the 1993 season.

 

Garnering the top preseason ranking is Penn State, followed by Nebraska, Texas, Stanford and Hawaii. The next AVCA poll will be released Sept. 6.

 

FSU will play an exhibition on Saturday, Aug. 21, against an alumni squad at Tully Gym at 3 p.m. The Seminoles open their season as hosts of the FSU Invitational, playing Western Athletic Conference opponent New Mexico State on Friday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m.

UT Volleyball Voted Favorite To Win SEC Title

PLEASE NOTE: Video interview with Rob Patrick available at UTLadyVols.com

 

UT VOLLEYBALL VOTED FAVORITE TO WIN SEC TITLE

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Tennessee volleyball team has been selected to win the 2010 Southeastern Conference volleyball title in a preseason vote by the league’s 11 coaches. This marks the first time since 1994 that a team other than Florida has been voted to capture the title, snapping at least a 16-year run at the honors by the Gators.

The Lady Vols received nine of the 11 first-place votes for the league champion. The other two tallies both went to UF.

 

The honor comes just a day after the Big Orange earned its first preseason national ranking since 2006, coming in at No. 19 in the initial American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. UT is coming off a 2009 campaign in which it reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament after compiling a 24-8 record, including a program-best 16 SEC victories.

 

Tennessee received 11 points to win the Eastern Division, followed by Florida with 21 points and Kentucky with 25. Georgia and South Carolina are picked to finish fourth and fifth in the division respectively. The Gators did receive two first-place votes for overall champion.

 

The defending SEC Champion LSU Tigers are predicted to win the Western Division for the third consecutive season with 13 first-place votes. The Tigers posted an 18-2 league record and a 25-7 overall record. The Auburn Tigers have been selected to finish second with 19 points, and the Arkansas Razorbacks are predicted to place third with 25 points. Ole Miss and Mississippi State are picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, while the Alabama Crimson Tide rounds out the poll in sixth-place.

           

Points were compiled on a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Western Division and 1-2-3-4-5 for the Eastern Division. Each coach is not allowed to vote for his or her own team and each coach also voted for one team as an overall conference champion.

      

The Big Orange will kick off its 2010 schedule August 27-28, when it hosts the eighth annual Comcast Lady Vol Classic. The Lady Vols will welcome Xavier, Chattanooga and Virginia Tech to the friendly confines of Thompson-Boling Arena for the two-day competition.

 

 

2010 SEC PRESEASON POLL

(First-Place votes in parentheses)

 

Eastern Division

Team    Points

Tennessee (9)    11

Florida (2) 21

Kentucky   25

Georgia      39

South Carolina    44

 

Western Division

Team    Points

LSU      13

Auburn 19

Arkansas   25

Ole Miss        43

Mississippi State     46

Alabama    49 

 

SEC Champion: Tennessee (9), Florida (2)

 

COLORADO STATE RANKED IN 2010 AVCA PRESEASON COACHES TOP-25 POLL

COLORADO STATE RANKED IN 2010 AVCA PRESEASON COACHES TOP-25 POLL

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –­ Colorado State earned a No. 17 ranking in the 2010 AVCA Division I Coaches Top-25 Preseason Poll released August 17 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Three other Conference institutions (Utah, New Mexico and San Diego State) received votes in the preseason poll.

 

Defending MWC regular-season champion Colorado State returns five starters and 10 letterwinners overall, including 2009 MWC Player of the Year Danielle Minch and 2009 all-MWC honorees Megan Plourde and Evan Sanders. CSU completed the 2009 campaign with a 25-6 overall record and a 15-1 league mark, to clinch its sixth outright MWC regular season title. The Rams participated in their 21^st NCAA Tournament in 2009, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003.

 

Utah received 34 votes in the AVCA preseason poll. The Utes finished the 2009 campaign 17-12 overall and 10-6 in Conference play. Led by 2009 all-Conference selection Karolina Bartkowiak, Utah welcomes back four starters and a libero among 10 returning letterwinners.

 

New Mexico garnered its first preseason poll recognition since the league’s inception by receiving 15 votes. The Lobos posted a 20-10 overall record (10-6 in MWC play) and advanced to their first NCAA Tournament since 1994 last season. UNM returns five starters and a libero (nine letterwinners overall), including 2009 all-MWC selections Taylor Hadfield and Jade Michaelsen.

 

San Diego State is also receiving its first preseason acclaim since joining the MWC, capturing 14 votes in the poll. The Aztecs posted a 14-15 overall record (7-9 MWC record) in 2009. SDSU welcomes back four starters (plus a libero), including two-time all-MWC selection Lauren Salisbury, and seven letterwinners.

 

The MWC has had at least one team ranked in the preseason top-25 poll 11 out of the last 12 years.

 

 

Clemson Volleyball Team Picked Sixth in ACC Preseason Poll

Clemson Volleyball Team Picked Sixth in ACC Preseason Poll   

 

Sandra Adeleye, Alexa Rand named to preseason All-ACC team.

CLEMSON – The 2010 Clemson volleyball team was picked to finish sixth
by the ACC’s head coaches in a preseason vote. Sophomores Sandra
Adeleye and Alexa Rand were both named to the preseason All-ACC Team.
Both were on the 2009 All-Freshman Team, and Adeleye was an All-ACC
selection, as well as the AVCA East Region Rookie of the Year.

The Tigers garnered 71 total points, ahead of Virginia (70), Virginia
Tech (55), Maryland (40), Wake Forest (38), NC State (20), and Boston
College (12). Florida State and Duke tied for first with 108 points,
with Georgia Tech (103), Miami (92), and North Carolina (75) not far
behind.

Adeleye and Rand are two of only four sophomores on the 18-member
preseason All-ACC team.

The ACC sent a league-record five schools to the NCAA Tournament in
2009, including Clemson, who made a third consecutive trip. The Tigers
were 23-10 last season, but graduated All-ACC performers Kelsey Murphy
and Lia Proctor, as well as ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Didem
Ege.

The Tigers will hold their Orange and White Scrimmage on Saturday at
1:00 pm and open the 2010 season with the Big Orange Bash on Friday,
Aug. 27 with Jacksonville at 7:00 pm.

Ohio State Buckeyes Volleyball Earn Votes in AVCA Preseason Poll

Ohio State Buckeyes Volleyball Earn Votes in AVCA Preseason Poll

 

Columbus, Ohio - In the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 preseason poll, Ohio State received 120 votes and is three slots out of the Top 25. The Buckeyes received 120 votes in the preseason poll and stand 28^th.

Four Big Ten squads are ranked in the Top 25 with Penn State first, Illinois and Minnesota tied for sixth and Michigan ranked 12^th.

BUCKEYES HOST SCARLET & GRAY MATCH, AUG 24, 7 P.M.
The women's volleyball team will play an intersquad match at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24 in St. John Arena. Admission is free. The Scarlet & Gray match is the final warmup before the season begins later in the week.

"VOLLEYRULES" TO FOLLOW SCARLET & GRAY MATCH
An informal question and answer session will be held immediately after the Scarlet & Gray match. Following "VOLLEYRULES", an autograph session will be held.

OSU OPENS 2010 SEASON WITH VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
The Buckeyes will open the 2010 season by hosting Virginia Commonwealth at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 27 in the Sports Imports Classic. Play continues Saturday with OSU hosting Western Michigan at 11 a.m. and Pittsburgh at 7 p.m.

***OhioStateBuckeyes.com***

   

Auburn Volleyball Team Picked To Finish Second In SEC West

Auburn Volleyball Team Picked To Finish Second In SEC West

AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn volleyball team was picked to finish second
in the Southeastern Conference Western Division by the league’s head
coaches. The selection is Auburn’s best preseason ranking in the last
decade.

“This is a good spot for this team at the start of the season,”
head coach Wade Benson said. “Our goal is to win the SEC West this
year and, with the amount of depth we have on the team, we have our
goals set in place for coming out on top.”

The 2010 squad is comprised of five seniors, three juniors, five
sophomores, three redshirt freshmen and six freshmen this season. The
team is coming off a successful 2009 season that saw the squad finish
16-15 overall and 8-12 in the conference, closing out in second in the
SEC West. Last year’s finish was the best for any Auburn team in a
decade.

Tennessee was selected to win the SEC title this season. This marks the
first time since 1994 that a different team has been voted to capture
the title, ending a 16-year run by the Florida Gators. Florida was
chosen to finish second in the SEC East followed by Kentucky, Georgia
and South Carolina.

For the third-straight season, defending SEC Champion LSU was picked to
win the West. Auburn was selected second with Arkansas, Ole Miss,
Mississippi State and Alabama rounding out the poll.

Points were compiled on a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Western Division
and 1-2-3-4-5 for the Eastern Division. Each coach is not allowed to
vote for his or her own team and each coach also voted for one team as
an overall conference champion.

Auburn opens the 2010 season with the annual War Eagle Invitational,
Aug. 27-28. The Tigers kick off the tournament with a 7 p.m. match
against Troy on Aug. 27 at the Student Activities Center.