Two Votes Separate BC and RMC for Second Place

SALEM, Va. --- Washington & Lee University received nine first place votes and 118 overall tallies as the Generals sit atop the 2007 ODAC Volleyball Preseason Poll.  Bridgewater College picked up one first place nod and 106 total votes for second place, and Randolph-Macon also garnered a top spot consideration as well as 104 votes from the conference coaches.

Washington & Lee made a strong run in the 2006 NCAA following its sixth straight and 10^th overall ODAC title.  The Generals traveled to New York University for regional play, defeating Vassar in four games and host NYU in a thrilling five-set showdown.  One of 16 teams remaining in the tournament, Washington & Lee carried a six-match winning streak to Stevens Tech (N.J.).  W&L met host Stevens Tech head-on, but the Ducks got the best of the Generals, 3-1.

W&L enters the 2007 campaign riding one of the most impressive winning streaks in the country.  The Generals have not lost an ODAC regular season match since October 25, 2000, a string of 62 consecutive conference match victories.  Returning to the squad to help extend that streak is first team All-ODAC selection Laura Maurer.  The junior outside hitter finished the season second in the conference in kills with 393 and kills per game at a 3.42 clip.  Setters Lauren Rudolph (Sr.) and Kristi Stevens (So.) both return after forming a formidable passing combo on the Generals front line (740 and 595 assists, respectively).  Junior Jessica Ulrich (282 kills, .270 hit. pct.) gives W&L a top flight hitting option on the right side.

Bridgewater has a pair of formidable weapons highlighting its returning players as the Eagles look for their first conference crown since the 2000 campaign.  Senior Marsha Hermes, a first team All-ODAC selection as an outside hitter, finished tops in the conference in kills with 399 as well as in kills per game with a 3.99 mark.  She teams with 2006 ODAC Rookie of the Year, Erika Dirnagl, to form a dynamic combo in the front court.  Dirnagl, a middle hitter, put up 313 total kills (4^th in the ODAC) and 3.26 per game (3^rd) to goal along with the league's second-best blocks mark at 1.47 per game (17 solo, 117 assists).

Randolph-Macon will have to look to new faces to make up for the graduation of its top three offensive threats that included 2006 ODAC Player of the Year, Maggie McDearmon.  Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Huber gives the Yellow Jackets a reason to be optimistic after a solid freshman season in which she pounded out 221 kills.  Middles Kendra Smith (Jr.; 156 kills, 0.98 bpg) and April Hines (So.; 137 kills, 1.16 bpg) will be relied upon for increased production on both sides of the ball.

The 2007 campaign gets underway on Friday, August 31.  The 2007 ODAC Championship will be held Friday and Saturday, November 2-3, at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia.

Listed below is the entire 2007 ODAC Volleyball Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC volleyball, visit www.odaconline.com or any of the competing schools' websites.

2007 ODAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
(#) Denotes first place votes