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UNCG tabbed fourth in the North in SoCon preseason poll
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the second straight season, UNCG was picked to finish in fourth place in the North Division by the head volleyball coaches in the Southern Conference, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Reigning North Division champion, Elon, was picked to win the North again this season as the Phoenix received seven first-place votes and 61 total points. Georgia Southern, who won the 2010 SoCon Tournament, was picked to finish atop the South Division after earning nine first-place votes and 63 points total.
UNCG earned 38 total points as it was picked fourth behind Samford (52 points) and Appalachian State (51). Chattanooga was tabbed fifth in the North with 28 points and Western Carolina rounded out the division in sixth place with 16 points.
Last year's favorite in the South Division, College of Charleston, was picked to finish second this season after garnering two first-place votes and 53 total points, just one point ahead of third-place Furman. Davidson (32 points), Wofford, (30) and The Citadel (16) were picked fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the South.
Last season, UNCG went 22-12 overall with a 9-7 mark in the Southern Conference. The squad earned the No. 2 seed in the North Division in the Southern Conference Tournament and advanced into the semifinals.
UNCG will kick off its 2011 campaign on Saturday as the Spartans play their annual Blue-Gold scrimmage at 5 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium. Admission is free to the match.
Southern Conference Preseason Poll
School (#1 Votes) Total Points
North
1. Elon (7) 61
2. Samford (3) 52
3. Appalachian State (2) 51
4. UNCG 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
- UNCG -
