 |  |
Spartans picked ninth in SoCon Volleyball poll; Overby named all-conference
SPARTANBURG, SC – The UNC Greensboro women’s volleyball team has been selected ninth in the 2006 Southern Conference pre-season poll, according to the league’s 11 head coaches. In addition, UNCG senior Hilary Overby was named to the 14-player pre-season all-league team.
College of Charleston garnered eight of the 11 available first place votes to grab the top spot in the poll. Furman was second in the voting, including two first-place votes, followed by Appalachian State with one first-place vote. Davidson was selected fourth, followed by Georgia Southern in fifth.
College of Charleston, Furman and Appalachian State placed three student-athletes on the pre-season squad. Charleston middle blocker Tiffany Blum returns as a 2005 first team all-conference selection and is joined by libero Marie Dobrenz and middle blocker Annie Uthe. Furman’s Whitney Purser, the only other first team selection to return from the 2005 squad, is joined by teammates Chibuzo Aguocha and Courtney Stewardson. ASU’s Diana Thomas returns in 2006 after being named to the all-conference second team in 2005, along with fellow Mountaineers Chrissy Finch and Loerelle Rau.
Davidson’s Liz Williamson rounds out the returning all-conference players as she was a second team selection in 2005. She is joined by Wildcat setter Jenna Dykstra. Chattanooga’s Lara Newberry, the 2005 Libero of the Year, represents the Mocs on the pre-season team, with Jennifer Charles from Georgia Southern and Overby round out the team.
The Spartans opens their season this weekend at the McAlister’s Deli Battle at the Beach hosted by UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, NC. UNCG begins play on Friday, August 25 in the first game of the tournament against Tennessee-Martin at 10 am. Later in the evening, UNCG will take on South Carolina State at 5 pm.
UNCG, coming off a 5-26 season in 2005, has five players and three starters back for head coach Shawn Garus. The second-year mentor welcomes one senior transfer and seven freshmen into the fold in 2006. The home opener at Fleming Gym will feature local-rival High Point on Tuesday, September 5 at 7 pm.
AGATE
2006 Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. College of Charleston
(8) 98
2. Furman
(2)
85
3. Appalachian State
(1)
82
4.
Davidson
73
5. Georgia
Southern
63
6.
Chattanooga
61
7.
Elon
36
8.
Wofford
34
9. UNC
Greensboro
32
10. Western
Carolina
31
11. The
Citadel
10
2006 Volleyball Preseason All-League Team
Chrissy Finch, Appalachian State; Loerelle Rau, Appalachian State; Diana Thomas, Appalachian State; Tiffany Blum, College of Charleston; Marie Dobrenz, College of Charleston; Annie Uthe, College of Charleston; Lara Newberry, Chattanooga; Jenna Dykstra, Davidson; Liz Williamson, Davidson; Chibuzo Aguocha, Furman; Whitney Purser, Furman
Courntey Stewardson, Furman; Jennifer Charles, Georgia Southern; Hilary Overby, UNC Greensboro
- UNCG -
