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Lebanon Valley and Eastern Picked Favorites in MAC Conferences
Story Courtesy of the MAC Website
Lebanon Valley College and Eastern University have been
selected by the leagues head coaches to win their respective
conferences in volleyball in the annual preseason poll.
Lebanon Valley Favored in Commonwealth Conference
Volleyball Preseason Poll
Annville, PA – Lebanon Valley College, two time defending Commonwealth champions, once again topped the annual coaches preseason poll as the favorites by earning 47 points.
This is the first time in program history that LVC will enter the season as back-to-back defending champions. Coach Wayne Perry returns for his 24th season and earned Coach of the Year honors in 2009 for the fifth time.
Lebanon Valley finished the 2009 regular season tied with
Elizabethtown in the standings, but LVC defeated Elizabethtown 3-2
to win the title. The Dutchmen faced Mt. Union in the first round
of the NCAA tournament, but fell 3-1.
Perry returns every starter from the 2009 team, headlined by
Commonwealth Player of the Year, Joelle Snyder. Snyder led the
conference in kills (366) and hitting percentage (.329) in her
junior season. She surpassed the 1,000 kill mark and currently
ranks fifth all-time at LVC in kills with 1,191. Her career hitting
percentage of .325 is tops by any LVC player.
Lebanon Valley also has Emily Perkins (first team), Anglea
Kuperavage (second team), and Jess Raber (second team) returning as
All-Commonwealth selections from a year ago.
The Dutchmen open their season at the SUNY Cortland Red Dragon
Classic on September 3. The Commonwealth Conference Tournament
begins November 3 with semifinal games on campus at the higher
seeds, followed by the championship game on November 6.
These are the results of the coaches’ poll:
2010 Commonwealth Conference Volleyball Preseason
Poll
1. Lebanon Valley 47 pts. (5)
2. Elizabethtown 44 pts. (2)
3t. Messiah 34 pts. (1)
3t. Widener 34 pts.
5. Lycoming 23 pts.
6. Albright 22 pts.
7. Arcadia 11 pts.
8. Alvernia 9 pts.
(#) denotes fist place votes
Eastern Favored in Freedom Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll
Annville, PA – Eastern University, two time defending Freedom Conference champions, once again are the unanimous preseason favorites by earning 49 points in the annual coaches preseason poll.
With two consecutive appearances in the 'Sweet 16' and a pair of returning All-Americans, Eastern University Volleyball opens the 2010 campaign ranked #20 in the AVCA national poll.
Maria Horning and Courtney Reinhold lead a strong group of returning players that will likely be bolstered by a trio of talented rookies. Horning, a two-time All-American setter, has twice earned Freedom Conference Player of the Year honors, and will again direct the Eagle attack. The Eagles hope to be strong in all rotations as Reinhold, a two-time All-American outside, and sophomore Rachel Wenger look to build on last year's success while the middle hitters also have another year of experience.
First year outside Kearby Benak will figure prominently in the Eastern offense, and Kellee Stonesifer and Madison Goldbach will add to the squad as defensive specialists. The Eastern defense will be tested throughout the year as they take on a host of traditional powers.
The Eagles open their season against Cabrini on September 1. The Freedom Conference Tournament begins November 3 with semifinal games on campus at the higher seeds, followed by the championship game on November 6.
These are the results of the coaches’ poll:
2010 Freedom Conference Volleyball Preseason
Poll
1. Eastern 49 pts. (7)
2. DeSales 42 pts. (1)
3. FDU-Florham 37 pts.
4. Wilkes 31 pts.
5. King’s 23 pts.
6. Misericordia 20 pts.
7. Delaware Valley 13 pts.
8. Manhattanville 9 pts.
(#) denotes fist place votes
