SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Elon was selected to win the Southern Conference's North Division and Georgia Southern was granted the nod to capture the South Division in voting conducted among the league's head coaches. For the last two seasons, Samford and College of Charleston have been the preseason favorites. The coaches also selected the eight members of the all-conference team.

The Phoenix, who won the 2010 SoCon North Division title after sweeping Appalachian State and Western Carolina in their final regular season matches, received seven first place votes giving the team 61 points overall. Elon returns four starters from last year's squad.

Last year's preseason North favorite, Samford, was picked to finish second in the North, with 52 points, including three-first place votes. The Bulldogs return 11 from their squad including preseason all-conference member Elizabeth Neisler. Appalachian State rounds out the top three with 51 points, who grabbed two first-place votes. UNC Greensboro (38 points) was selected to finish the season fourth, followed by Chattanooga (28 points), and Western Carolina (16 points).

The 2010 tournament champions Georgia Southern Eagles were named the favorite to win the South Division with nine first-place votes and a total of 63 votes. The Eagles placed three members on the preseason all-conference team with seniors Bethany Sanford and Parker Small and junior Kate Van Dyke. Georgia Southern's three members are the most from any team in the conference.

Last year's South favorite, College of Charleston, was selected to finish second with 53 points and two first-place votes. The Cougars, who led the South Division last year with a 15-1 conference record, has two all-conference representatives with seniors Elyse Chubb and Sarah Havel. Rounding out the top three in the South is Furman, with 52 points. The Paladins also claimed the final first-place vote.

Davidson grabbed the fourth slot with 32 points, followed by Wofford (30 points) and The Citadel (16 points).

All 12 Southern Conference teams will take the court on Friday, August 26 in non-conference tournaments. Conference action begins Thursday, September 22.

Southern Conference Preseason Poll

School (#1 Votes)                   Total Points

North

1. Elon (7)                                 61

2. Samford (3)                           52

3. Appalachian State (2)             51

4. UNC Greensboro                   38

5. Chattanooga                          28

6. Western Carolina                   16

South

1. Georgia Southern (9)              63

2. College of Charleston (2)       53

3. Furman (1)                             52

4. Davidson                              32

5. Wofford                                30

6. The Citadel                            16

Preseason All-Southern Conference

Name                                       School                                     Position

Kate Van Dyke                          Georgia Southern                      S

Elyse Chubb                             College of Charleston                MB

Bethany Sanford                       Georgia Southern                      OH

Sarah Havel                              College of Charleston                MB

Kelly Kirby                                Furman                                     S/RS

Caroline Lemke                         Elon                                         MB

Parker Small                             Georgia Southern                      MB

Elizabeth Neisler                        Samford                                   OH