HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team is the favorite in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll, which was released Thursday by the league office.
NKU received five first-place votes and totaled 86 points to edge Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (83 points) for the favorite’s role. SIUE (25-7 record last season) garnered four first-place votes.
NKU posted a 26-12 record last season and advanced to the finals of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region. The Norse also captured the GLVC regular-season title with a 13-2 record and earned the No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament.
Defending GLVC Tournament champion University of Indianapolis (29-11 record last season) was selected third in the poll with 76 points, followed by the University of Southern Indiana (21-9 record in 2003) with 61 points.
NKU returns three starters and six letterwinners, including first team All-American Kristin Koralewski. A year ago, Koralewski recorded 580 kills, 487 digs and 26 double-doubles.
NKU also welcomes back sophomore setter Andrea Lanham, who recorded a team-leading 662 assists and had 25 service aces last season.
The top six teams during the regular season will advance to the GLVC Tournament on Nov. 11-13 at the site of the No. 1 seed.
The NCAA also has expanded the field for the NCAA Tournament. The 2004 field will consist of 64 teams, including eight from the Great Lakes Region.
2004 GLVC volleyball preseason coaches poll
(Includes last season’s record)
1. Northern Kentucky (5) 86 (26-12, 13-2 GLVC)
2. SIU Edwardsville (4) 83 (25-7, 12-2 GLVC)
3. Indianapolis (1) 76 (29-11, 12-3 GLVC)
4. Southern Indiana 61 (21-9, 8-6 GLVC)
5. Lewis 55 (16-12, 8-7 GLVC)
5. Wisconsin-Parkside 55 (16-14, 8-7 GLVC)
7. Quincy 45 (18-11, 9-5 GLVC)
8. Missouri-St. Louis 30.5 (8-15, 5-9 GLVC)
9. Saint Joseph's 28 (7-24, 3-12 GLVC)
10. Bellarmine 21.5 (6-27, 2-13 GLVC)
11. Kentucky Wesleyan 11 (3-23, 0-14 GLVC)
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Andrea Lanham |