Lady Eagles Picked Second in SAC Preseason Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Carson-Newman volleyball team is picked to finish second in the South Atlantic Conference in a vote of the league's head coaches, conference officials announced Wednesday.

The Lady Eagles, which went 24-15 last season and advanced to the NCAA Southeast Regional tournament, received 64 points.

Wingate is the favorite to capture a fourth straight SAC title. The Bulldogs, which have won the conference championship three straight years and have gone 30-0 against SAC opponents during the regular season the past two seasons, received eight first-place votes and 80 total points.

Lincoln Memorial, which advanced to the SAC tournament final last season, is picked to finish third, just one point behind C-N.

Catawba is fourth in the poll with 53 points. The Indians advanced to the Southeast Region championship of the NCAA Tournament last season.

Newberry is the pick to finish fifth with 42 total points.

Lenoir-Rhyne and Tusculum each received 36 points and are tied for sixth place, while Mars Hill (16 points) and Brevard (15) round out the poll.

The Lady Eagles open the 2009 season at home on Aug. 28 against Glenville State at 1 p.m. and Francis Marion at 7 p.m.

The Food Lion SAC Tournament will be held at Tusculum, with quarterfinal play on Friday, Nov. 13. The semifinals are Saturday, Nov. 14, with the championship set for Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Tournament.

2009 SAC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
1. Wingate (8) 80
2. Carson-Newman 64
3. Lincoln Memorial 63
4. Catawba 53
5. Newberry (1) 42
6. Lenoir-Rhyne 36
6. (tie) Tusculum 36
8. Mars Hill 16
9. Brevard 15
(First place votes in parenthesis)