</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">North Carolina Considered Preseason Favorite In Volleyball

UNC, Duke and Georgia Tech take the top three spots respectively in the preseason poll.

July 25, 2002

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The North Carolina Tar Heels have been selected as the top pick for the upcoming 2002 ACC Volleyball season, as determined by a vote of the league's nine head coaches.

The three-time defending ACC Tournament Champions (1999, 2000, 2001) collected 78 points to edge out the defending regular-season champion Duke, who notched 69 points. The Tar Heels return 10 letterwinners from last year's squad and five starters, including 2001 ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Malaika Underwood. North Carolina downed South Carolina in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Pepperdine in the second-round.

Duke, the 2001 ACC regular-season champion, is slated to finish second. The Blue Devils return four starters from last season, including first-team All-ACC performer Josie Weymann and second-team honoree Krista Dill. Duke advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive year, defeating William & Mary in the first round before falling to Southern California in the second.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are predicted to finish third (63), after finishing tied for third in the 2001 ACC regular season. Georgia Tech returns eight letterwinners and four starters including All-ACC performers Lynnette Moster, Kele Eveland, and the 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year Lauren Sauer. The Yellow Jackets advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year, before dropping to Louisville in the first round.

Completing the preseason poll in order of finish is Maryland (45), Florida State (42), Clemson (38), Wake Forest (36), Virginia (24), and NC State (10). Below is a listing of the pre-season coaches' poll with 2001 records and regular season finishes.

2002 PRESEASON ACC VOLLEYBALL POLL

School Points 2001 Record/Finish
1. North Carolina 78 24-9, 12-4 ACC/T2nd
2. Duke 69 23-5, 13-3 ACC/1st
3. Georgia Tech 63 19-8, 12-4 ACC/T2nd
4. Maryland 45 12-14, 7-9 ACC/6th
5. Florida State 42 17-12, 10-6 ACC/T3rd
6. Clemson 38 11-17, 4-12 ACC/7th
7. Wake Forest 36 20-11, 10-6 ACC/T3rd
8. Virginia 24 9-18, 3-13 ACC/8th
9. NC State 10 6-21, 1-15 ACC/9th
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On a related note, my roommate dated UNC volleyballer Aletha Green for like two days....



-JD

she's a cute!!

Duke's only sport is basketball.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Lucy:
6. Clemson 38 11-17, 4-12 ACC/7th
7. Wake Forest 36 20-11, 10-6 ACC/T3rd
9. NC State 10 6-21, 1-15 ACC/9th</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Volleyball must be one of BlueDevil's favorite sports