HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team is the favorite in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll, which was released Tuesday by the league office.
NKU, which had its streak of five consecutive GLVC championships snapped last season by the University of Southern Indiana, received four of the 11 first-place votes and totaled 89 points. Defending GLVC champion Southern Indiana tied Lewis in the voting for second place with 85 points each.
Southern Indiana (26-8 last year) received three first-place votes from the league’s coaches, and Lewis (25-5 last year) received two first-place votes.
NKU (22-10 last year) returns all six starters this season, including senior first team All-GLVC setter Sara Taylor. A year ago, Taylor led the nation in assists (13.82 apg) to become the first NKU player in history to finish No. 1 nationally in that category.
Taylor earned first team All-Great Lakes Region honors a year ago, and she is expected to contend for All-America honors in 2003.
The Norse also welcome back first team All-GLVC right-side hitter Cammi Welter, who recorded 395 kills and 83 total blocks a year ago. Welter also earned first team All-Great Lakes Region honors last season.
Other returning starters include second team All-GLVC performers Nicole Salisbury (398 kills, 318 digs in 2002) and Maggie Pugh (296 kills, .342 hitting percentage). In addition, junior outside hitter Kristin Koralewski - who was named honorable mention All-Great Lakes Region by the AVCA last year - is back after finishing with 346 kills and a team-leading 46 service aces in 2002.
The 11-team league will again be divided into two divisions. The Blue Division consists of Bellarmine, Indianapolis, Lewis, Northern Kentucky, Saint Joseph’s and Wisconsin-Parkside. The Green Division has Kentucky Wesleyan, Missouri-St. Louis, Quincy, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Southern Indiana.
Great Lakes Valley Conference
2003 volleyball preseason poll
School, Points
1. Northern Kentucky (4) - 89
2. Southern Indiana (3) - 85
2. Lewis (2) - 85
4. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (1) - 78
5. Indianapolis (1) - 72
6. Wisconsin-Parkside - 48
7. Quincy - 47
8. Saint Joseph’s - 42
9. Missouri-St. Louis - 29
10. Bellarmine - 20
11. Kentucky Wesleyan - 10
Number of first-place votes in parentheses
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Sara Taylor |