UA Volleyball Selected To Win The West
Thursday, August 22, 2002

By UA Women's Communications

Special To The Morning News/RazorbackCentral

FAYETTEVILLE -- For the sixth time in eight seasons the Arkansas volleyball team has been selected to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division title.

Arkansas has won the divisional title seven of eight seasons including last year.

"It's great to be recognized by the other coaches in the SEC," Arkansas coach Chris Poole said. "This is the most competitive the conference has been since we've joined. Clearly Florida is the favorite and South Carolina will be strong with five returning starters, but there's four or five teams who could really mix things up this year.

"A preseason poll is just that -- a preseason prediction. It will come down to which teams can win the matches they are supposed to and who plays well on the road."

Florida was again selected to win the SEC Eastern Division title and the SEC Tournament title.

Points were compiled on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Western Division and 5-4-3-2-1 for the Eastern Division. Each coach was not allowed to vote for his or her own team, and each coach also voted for one team as an overall conference champion.

The Lady Razorbacks open the 2002 season at the SMS Fall Invitational on Aug. 30-31, and open at home with the Bank of Fayetteville Invitational on Sept. 6-7.

2002 SEC Preseason Coaches Poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

Western Division

Team Points

Arkansas (9) 59

Alabama (1) 48

Louisiana State (1) 45

Ole Miss 31

Mississippi State 26

Auburn 15

Eastern Division

Team Points

Florida (10) 50

South Carolina (1) 41

Georgia 27

Kentucky 21

Tennessee 21