Several South Florida Volleyball teams shine brightly in the Sunshine State conference with the release of the Pre-Season Pole. At No. 3 Nova Southeastern University (who reached the Elite 8 in last years NCAA DIV II Tournament). At No. 5is the talented team from Lynn University and at No.7 is an up and coming Barry University team.
The University of Tampa has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the 2009 Sunshine State Conference volleyball championship.
Winners of the past five league titles, the Spartans tallied 123 points and 12 first-place votes in a preseason poll conducted among the league’s volleyball coaches and sports information directors. Florida Southern, which placed second a year ago and shared the SSC crown with the Spartans in 2006, was predicted to finish second. The Moccasins earned 112 points and three first-place nods.
Nova Southeastern, a team which had a tremendous postseason run all the way to the 2008 NCAA Championship quarterfinals, was tabbed third, garnering 94 points and a first-place vote. Saint Leo was right on the Sharks’ heels, tallying 91 points with two first-place votes.
Only six points separated fifth-place Lynn and sixth-place Eckerd in the poll. The Fighting Knights accumulated 68 points, while the Tritons picked up 62.
Barry, Florida Tech, and Rollins rounded out the poll. Barry was tabbed seventh with 44 points. Florida Tech received 37 points to assume the eighth slot, and Rollins picked up 17 points.
Nova Southeastern: The defending NCAA Division II South Regional Champion Sharks will be looking to top one of the best seasons in program history. Head coach Steve Wilcosky will return 4 starters including Valia Petrova (Sr., Sofia, Bulgaria) who was an AVCA Second-Team All-American and an All-SSC First-Team honoree. The season is set to begin on Aug. 28-29 when the Sharks travel to Canyon, Texas for the 2009 Lady Bluff Classic. The Sharks will open the tournament and the season against West Texas A&M at 11 am.
Lynn University: Most wins in program history? Check. Multiple All-Americans? Check. Consecutive appearances in the NCAA postseason tournament? Check. Two top-three finishes in the Sunshine State Conference in the past three seasons? Check. As the Lynn University volleyball team continues to check off milestones and accolades under the helm of fourth-year head coach Lynze Roos, the Fighting Knights now look to take the next step as a key player on the national stage. Returning four starters from their record-setting 2008 campaign, the Blue and White have reloaded with talent and depth as they challenge for their first SSC crown and NCAA South Region championship.
Barry University: Head Coach Fredrico Santos enters his second season with the Buccaneers and has the team on the rise. The team is led by Setter Libby Walter who landed on the SSC All-Freshman team, amassing 846 assists, the sixth highest in the conference and she was also second on the team in aces with 27. Middle hitters, senior Samara Ferreira and junior Stefanie Sveiven, also return. The duo combined for 243 kills and 153 blocks.
2009 SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
Rank – School, Points (1st Place Votes)
1 – Tampa, 123 (12)
2 – Florida Southern, 112 (3)
3 – Nova Southeastern, 94 (1)
4 – Saint Leo, 91 (2)
5 – Lynn, 68
6 – Eckerd, 62
7 – Barry, 44
8 – Florida Tech, 37
9 – Rollins, 17
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