Aug. 25, 2008
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -
The 2008 Furman volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the South Division of the Southern Conference, the league announced today.
Furman, who returns nine players and three starters, including 2006 SoCon Player of the Year Nicole Palazzo and 2007 All-Conference honoree Alison West, received one first-place vote and 55 overall points in the preseason poll. The Paladins went 20-9 in 2007 and finished third in the Southern Conference.
The College of Charleston and UNC Greensboro were picked to win the league's South and North divisions, respectively.
The Cougars, who received 11 first-place votes and 66 overall points, are the defending SoCon Volleyball regular-season and tournament champions and have won four straight tournament championships and seven straight regular season championships. College of Charleston returns eight members including SoCon Freshman of the Year Cole Dawley.
The Spartans, who received 10 first place votes and 65 overall votes, return 14 players from a team that went 20-15 during the regular season, but advanced to the SoCon tournament finals before being defeated by the Cougars 3-1.
The conference also announced the 12-member preseason all-Southern Conference team. Furman placed two on the preseason all-conference team. Senior Nikki Palazzo and junior Ali West, both 2007 All-Conference nominees were tabbed in the preseason poll.
Furman opens play on Friday with a match against Georgia State in Athens, Ga.
Southern Conference Preseason Poll
School (#1 Votes), Total Points
North
1. UNC Greensboro (10), 65
2. Appalachian State (1), 53
3. Elon (1), 41
4. Samford, 39
5. Chattanooga, 32
6. Western Carolina, 16
South
1. College of Charleston (11), 66
2. Furman (1), 55
3. Davidson, 44
4. Georgia Southern, 37
5. Wofford, 25
6. The Citadel, 19
Preseason All-Southern Conference
Name, School, Position
Nicole Palazzo, Furman, MB
Kaitlyn Nortz, UNC Greensboro, MB
Lara Newberry, Chattanooga, L
Branagan Fuller, UNC Greensboro, OH
Emily Sawin, College of Charleston, OH/RSH
Carla Durham, Appalachian State, MB
Alison West, Furman, OH
Cole Dawley, College of Charleston, S
Ashley Adams, Samford, OH
Kittery Neale, Davidson, MB
Catherine Hanners, UNC Greensboro, L
Sarah Schermerhorn, Elon, MB
