SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? College of Charleston and UNC Greensboro were picked to win the Southern Conference’s South and North divisions respectively in the Southern Conference Volleyball Preseason poll, which was released today by the conference office.
The Cougars, who received 11 first-place votes and 66 overall points, are the defending SoCon Volleyball regular-season and tournament champions and have won four straight tournament championships and seven straight regular season championships. CofC returns eight members including SoCon Freshman of the Year Cole Dawley.
Also receiving a first place vote was Furman, which returns nine players, including 2006 SoCon Player of the Year Nicole Palazzo and outside hitter Alison West off a 20-9 team from a year ago.
The Spartans, who received 10 first place votes and 65 overall votes, return 14 players from a team that went 20-15 during the regular season, but advanced to the SoCon tournament finals before being defeated by the Cougars 3-1. They are led by middle blocker Kaitlyn Nortz, outside hitter Branagan Fuller and libero Catherine Hanners.
Also receiving first place votes were Appalachian State and Elon. The Mountaineers received 53 total votes and return nine players, including middle blocker Carla Durham off a 19-14 team from a year ago.
The Phoenix received 41 total points and return nine players, including middle blocker Sarah Schermerhorn from a team that went 17-16 last season.
The conference also announced the 12-member preseason all-Southern Conference team. Three schools dominated the team as there were three UNC Greensboro players tabbed, and two each from College of Charleston and Furman.
Highlighting the team are 2007 SoCon Libero of the Year Lara Newberry of Chattanooga and 2007 SoCon Freshman of the Year Cole Dawley of College of Charleston.
Last season, Newberry was named College Volleyball Update’s 2007 National Libero of the Year after breaking the NCAA modern era single season record for digs with 942.
Three other players on the 2008 preseason all-SoCon team also joined Newberry and Dawley on the 2007 postseason all-conference team. These are Palazzo and West from Furman and Nortz from UNC Greensboro.
The season starts for many teams this Friday, August 29, in various tournaments around the country.
Notes: Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players or team in the preseason poll and all-conference selections.
With the addition of Samford to the SoCon, volleyball will return to divisional play for the 2008 season. The divisions are the same as they are for men’s basketball.
Southern Conference Preseason Poll
School (#1 Votes) Total Points
North
1. UNC Greensboro (10) 65
2. Appalachian State (1) 53
3. Elon (1) 41
4. Samford 39
5. Chattanooga 32
6. Western Carolina 16
South
1. College of Charleston (11) 66
2. Furman (1) 55
3. Davidson 44
4. Georgia Southern 37
5. Wofford 25
6. The Citadel 19
Preseason All-Southern Conference
Name School Position
Nicole Palazzo Furman MB
Kaitlyn Nortz UNC Greensboro MB
Lara Newberry Chattanooga L
Branagan Fuller UNC Greensboro OH
Emily Sawin College of Charleston OH/RSH
Carla Durham Appalachian State MB
Alison West Furman OH
Cole Dawley College of Charleston S
Ashley Adams Samford OH
Kittery Neale Davidson MB
Catherine Hanners UNC Greensboro L
Sarah Schermerhorn Elon MB