UNCG third in SoCon poll, two tabbed preseason All-SoCon

GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro's volleyball team was picked to finish third in the North Division by the Southern Conference coaches, as announced by the conference office Monday. Senior Catherine Hanners and junior Kayren Finney were named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference Team.

The Spartans, coming off a 23-10 record in 2008, received 45 total votes, including one first-place vote, to fall just behind Samford and Elon in the North Division. College of Charleston was picked to finish first in the South Division and returning conference tournament champion, Furman, was picked second.

Hanners, a senior libero, led the team last season with 510 digs, which was the eighth-most in single season history. She was also named to the Southern Conference All-Tournament team and had 0.61 aces per game average, which was good enough for sixth nationally. She broke the school record for the most aces in a three-game match with 10 in the 3-0 sweep against Western Carolina.

Finney, a junior middle blocker, was a first-team All-SoCon performer last season. A two-time SoCon player of the week honoree last season, Finney led the team with 138 blocks last season, which was ninth in single season school history. She also registered 327 kills on the year, for a 2.87 kills per game average.

UNCG opens its 2009 campaign this weekend at the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. The Spartans will open on Friday against Liberty at 4 p.m. before facing Virginia Tech and Montana on Saturday.

AGATE 

Southern Conference Preseason Poll
School (First-place votes)            Total Points
North
1. Samford (8)                                    60
2. Elon (3)                                             52
3. UNC Greensboro (1)                       45
4. Chattanooga                                     39|
5. Appalachian State                            31
6. Western Carolina                           19 

South
1. College of Charleston (10)               65
2. Furman (1)                                         54
3. Georgia Southern (1)                          47
4. Davidson                                                      37
5. Wofford                                                        25
6. The Citadel                                        18 

Preseason All-Southern Conference
Name                                       School                               Position
Cole Dawley                         College of Charleston            S
Elyse Chubb                         College of Charleston            MB
Kayren Finney                     UNC Greensboro                           MB
Hillary Fountain                     Samford                                S
Emily Sawin                          College of Charleston            OH
Catherine Hanners               UNC Greensboro                   L
Sheriden Stangohr                Samford                                MB

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