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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University has been selected as the favorite in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason volleyball poll. The Norse edged Rockhurst by one point to earn the role of preseason favorite from the GLVC coaches. NKU received four first-place votes and 132 total points, while Rockhurst totaled seven first-place votes and 131 points. Defending GLVC champion Southern Illinois at Edwardsville and Indianapolis tied for third in the poll with 116 points each. Southern Indiana totaled 106 points and rounds out the top five in the poll. NKU returns five starters from last year's 26-7 team that advanced to the GLVC Tournament semifinals. The Norse will feature junior All-American Liz Holmes, who led NKU in kills (471), hitting percentage (.351), blocks (88) and service aces (65) last season. She also had 315 digs. Holmes, a 5-foot-10 middle hitter, has recorded 868 kills and 580 digs in two seasons with the Norse. She was tabbed first team All-GLVC as well as All-Great Lakes Region by the AVCA last year. Sophomore right-side hitter Kristina Eisenmenger recorded 375 kills and a .325 hitting percentage to earn Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year honors last season. She also earned first team All-GLVC honors. Senior setter Andrea Lanham, a four-year starter who ranks No. 2 in school history with 3,477 career assists, returns to the lineup. Lanham earned second team All-GLVC honors last season and led the GLVC in service aces at 0.58 sapg. A graduate of Notre Dame Academy, Lanham served up a school-record nine consecutive aces in the opening round of the GLVC Tournament against Lewis last fall. NKU is looking to win its first GLVC Tournament championship in five years. The Norse last captured the GLVC Tournament title in 2001. 2006 GLVC volleyball preseason poll Team,
(first-place votes), total points
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