Release submitted by CVAC office
August 21, 2006
THOMASVILLE, N.C.— The St. Andrews Presbyterian College volleyball team was picked ninth in the 2006 Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (CVAC) Volleyball Pre-Season Poll as voted on by the CVAC head coaches. Knights seniors’ Kim Harper (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Jesi Bewley (Cincinnati, Ohio) were also named to the 2006 CVAC volleyball “Players to Watch” list.
The Lees-McRae College volleyball team class of 2006 is poised to end their collegiate careers winning their fourth straight CVAC Tournament championship. This run has led them back to the top spot in the 2006 CVAC Volleyball Pre-Season Poll. They will be returning CVAC Tourney MVP and All-CVAC 1 st team member Lacie Smith, along with All-CVAC 2 nd team members Amanda Huffaker and Olivia Luce.
The Lady Bobcats (29-11, 18-2 CVAC) return all but two players from the 2005 squad that made it all the way to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Gone is former co-captain Bridget Thornton as well as setter Valia Petrova. However, with the strong leadership from an experienced senior class and a talented incoming freshman class, the Lady Bobcats appear ready to continue their streak in the CVAC Tournament Championships. Outside hitter Tiarra Pendleton and middle blocker Katie-Marie Legg were teammates in high school and hope to build their chemistry at the net for the Lady Bobcats as freshman. Trisha Reese and Lauren Dickover are both setter/defensive players to keep an eye on, while junior transfer Daviana Metti is also a welcomed addition at outside hitter and middle blocker.
Head Coaches around the league voted Mount Olive to fill the second spot in this year’s coaches poll. Mount Olive returns three All-Atlantic Region players from a squad that captured their first-ever CVAC regular season title (28-8, 19-1 CVAC) last year and advanced to the NCAA II Atlantic Regional for the second year in a row. The Trojans will be led by senior outside hitter Anna-Marie Luft who is a two-time All-CVAC 1st team selection and a two-time All-Region honoree. Junior outside hitter Sam Mitchell was also named to the All-CVAC first team & All-Region team in 2005. Also senior libero Nikki Murphy made her first appearance last year on the All-Region Team. While Trojan record holders Heidi Busch, Sara Christie and Colby Mangum will be missed, head coach Sasha Gutor has brought in a crop of newcomers with championship experience at the high school, junior college, and club levels.
Coker College ranked third in the poll and is geared-up and ready for a strong 2006 season after finishing a school best third place in last years regular season before falling to Pfeiffer in the semi-finals of the CVAC tournament in a five game match. Coach Chuck Mullen is looking forward to a successful season with a great deal of depth and the return of his entire 2005 roster, minus All-CVAC performer Andrea Manuel. Mullen will be looking for leadership out of his four seniors along with junior All CVAC 2nd Team hitter Margaret Madison, junior defensive specialist Natalie Schembra, and sophomore libero Kelsey Carlson. The Lady Cobras are joined by five newcomers, four freshmen and a junior college transfer.
Rounding out the poll 4-10 was: Converse, Anderson, Limestone, Belmont Abbey & Pfeiffer (tied), St. Andrews, Barton, and Queens respectively.
CVAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
(# of First Place Votes in Parenthesis)
1. Lees-McRae 14 (6)
2. Mount Olive 24 (2)
3. Coker 32 (1)
4. Converse 35 (1)
5. Anderson 53
6. Limestone 54 (1)
T-7 Belmont Abbey 76
T-7 Pfeiffer 76
9. St. Andrews 77
10. Barton 78
11. Queens 86
2006 CVAC “Preseason Players to Watch” List
(Submitted by individual institutions under preset qualifying guidelines)
Name (School &Year): Highlights
Leanna Willis (Anderson junior): 348 kills last season to led team
Keauna Vinson (Barton senior): 2004 & 05 All-CVAC 2nd Team & 03 Honorable Mention
Hallie Fuller (Barton senior): Red-shirt setter
Monica Halligan (Belmont Abbey sophomore): 2005 1 st Team All-CVAC
Clarissa Stull (Belmont Abbey junior): Outside hitter
Margaret Madison (Coker junior): 2005 2nd Team All-CVAC
Lauren Mueller (Converse senior): 2005 All-CVAC Honorable Mention
Lacie Smith (Lees-McRae senior): 2005 CVAC Tourney MVP, 1st Team All-CVAC, Regional All Tourney Team
Amanda Huffaker (Lees-McRae senior): 2005 1st Team All-CVAC, Regional All Tourney Team
Olivia Luce (Lees-McRae senior): 2005 2nd Team All-CVAC
Julie Oleson (Limestone senior): 2005 2nd Team All-CVAC
Amber Wise (Limestone senior): 2005 All-CVAC Honorable Mention
Anna-Marie Luft (Mount Olive senior): 04 & 05 All-CVAC 1st Team, 2-time All-Region, 03 Freshman of the Year
Sam Mitchell (Mount Olive junior): 2005 1st Team All-CVAC & All-Region
Nikki Murphy (Mount Olive junior): 2005 All-Region
Morgan Liebert (Pfeiffer sophomore): Setter & 5th in CVAC in Aces
Heather Klein (Pfeiffer senior): Led CVAC & 13th in nation in blocking
Laleh Threeths (Queens senior): Outside hitter
Keatin McKenzie (Queens sophomore): Middle hitter
Kim Harper (St. Andrews senior): 2003 & 04 All-CVAC Honorable Mention
Jesi Bewley (St. Andrews senior): Middle blocker
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