Randolph Macon, Bridgewater Round Out Top Three in Preseason Poll
SALEM, Va. --- Five-time defending champion
Washington and Lee University picked up eight first place votes to
claim the top spot in the annual Old Dominion Athletic Conference
(ODAC) volleyball preseason coaches poll. Randolph Macon
College, which garnered three first place votes, and Bridgewater
College round out a familiar top three. At least one of the
three schools has played in the ODAC tournament title match since
the 1994 season.
W&L picked up its ninth overall conference crown last season,
surpassing Eastern Mennonite University for the most in ODAC
volleyball history. Last season's effort was especially
impressive considering the consistently dominating play by the
Generals. After opening the season with a 1-2 record, W&L
won 31 of its final 33 matches leading up to its NCAA Division III
first round showdown with Southwestern. Included in that
effort was a 21-match winning streak in which the Generals lost
only three total games.
The Generals will have to work in a new setter following the
graduation of 2005 Player of the Year Christine Gladysz, but the
Generals' roster has plenty of talent waiting to prove its
mettle. Head Coach Bryan Snyder, the 2005 ODAC Coach of the
Year, welcomes back a trio of All-ODAC performers including First
Team libero Lauren Edmonson and Second Team outside hitter Laura
Maurer, the 2005 Rookie of the Year. When you add Honorable
Mention middle blocker Laurel Stewart to the mix, W&L should be
secure in its quest for a sixth-straight league title.
Randolph Macon has plans of its own as the Yellow Jackets look to
win their first conference crown. Head Coach Bill Rogers has
plenty of firepower returning to the floor led by senior First Team
attackers Mollee Farrell and Maggie McDearmon. The duo
combined for 597 kills across the front and 812.5 total points to
account for more than 35-percent of the team's offensive
production. Defense will set the tone for the Yellow Jackets.
Strong at the net, RMC led the conference in blocked shots by
nearly half a block per game. Middle blocker Jannesa Morusma
led the league with 191 total blocks while Farrell added 125
rejections.
Bridgewater mentor Mary Frances Heishman welcomes back her top
attacker from a season ago in All-ODAC Second Team outside hitter
Marsha Hermes. She racked up 364 kills, second only to
W&L's Maurer. The Eagles must also work a new setter into
the rotation, but several returnees led by Vanessa Bonocy will look
to step right in.
Listed below is the entire 2006 ODAC coaches poll. For a more
in-depth view into each of the teams, please visit the ODAC on the
web at www.odaconline.com.
2006 ODAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
(#) - Denotes first place votes
1. Washington and Lee (8)
2. Randolph-Macon (3)
3. Bridgewater
4. Va. Wesleyan
t5. Lynchburg
t5. Roanoke
7. Emory & Henry
8. Eastern Mennonite
9. Guilford
10. R-M Woman's College
11. Sweet Briar