A-Sun Releases Preseason Volleyball Poll
MACON, Ga. – With the 2010 NCAA volleyball season set to get underway, the Atlantic Sun Conference has released its preseason coach's poll results in addition to its preseason all-conference team selections.
Coming off its 2009 season with a program best 28-4 record, Lipscomb was selected as the preseason favorite to claim both the regular season and tournament championship. The Lady Bisons, who picked up 10 out of 11 first place votes for the regular season title, also nabbed 10 votes for the tournament champion's ballot.
Lipscomb also had the most representation on the all-conference team with three preseason selections (OH Meghan Hinemeyer, MB Alex Kelly, and Stefine "Jake" Pease, a setter who was also named Player of the Year in the poll).
Coming in second on the coaches poll was FGCU with 103 points and third went to Belmont with 97.
The only other program to receive a first place vote was Jacksonville, tabbed fourth with 90 points, who comes off a 10-20 season record overall in 2009 and 4-16 in the A-Sun.
USC Upstate, who was picked 10th in the A-Sun coach's poll, begins its regular season on Friday August, 27 in Peoria, Ill. at the Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational. During their time up north the Spartans will take on Southeast Missouri State, Friday at 3:00 p.m. as well as Bradley and Western Illinois, Saturday at 12:00 noon and 4:30 p.m., respectively.
Live scoring for the matches at the Invitational can be found by clicking here.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast.
Preseason Player of the Year: Stefine "Jake" Pease, S, Lipscomb
Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team
Pos. Name (Class) School
OH Meghan Hinemeyer (Sr.) Lipscomb
OH Maggie Johnson (Jr.) Belmont
MB *Alex Kelly (Sr.) Lipscomb
S Stefine "Jake" Pease (Sr.) Lipscomb
OH Paige Pridgeon (Sr.) UNF
OH *Jelena Simic (Sr.) FGCU
OH Emily Werner (Sr.) Campbell
L Holly Youngquist (Jr.) FGCU
* - Unanimous Selection
** A tie in the voting resulted in 7 at-large candidates making the team
Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll
Pl. School (1st) Points
1. Lipscomb (10) 120
2. FGCU 103
3. Belmont 97
4. Jacksonville (1) 90
5. Kennesaw State 67
6. Campbell 60
7. ETSU 59
8. Mercer 49
9. UNF 47
10. USC Upstate 22
11. Stetson 12
Tournament Champion: Lipscomb (10 votes)