Yellow Jackets Collect Eight First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College received eight first place votes on the way to 116 points in the 2010 ODAC Volleyball Preseason Poll.  Three other teams earned first place tallies in the annual coach’s survey, including second-ranked Washington and Lee University with one top nod and 98 total points.    Lynchburg College collected 97 points and one first place vote followed by Virginia Wesleyan College with 93 poll points.  Roanoke College picked up the final #1 vote as part of 81 points (full poll results below).

After winning its first ODAC volleyball crown, Randolph-Macon traveled west to Georgetown, Texas and Southwestern University for its opening match of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament.  The Yellow Jackets squared off with Trinity University and fell to the Tigers in four games, 25-23, 25-13, 22-25, 25-17.

Randolph-Macon (28-7 overall, 9-1 ODAC) welcomes back several key players including 2009 ODAC Player of the Year, senior right side Raena Winton.  Winton, also an All-ODAC First Team selection, was third in the league with a .336 hitting percentage a year ago.  She led the team in total kills with 364, averaging 3.06 per contest.  Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Sears earned 2009 ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades, as well as All-ODAC Second Team honors, after a stellar freshman campaign.  She finished second on the team in digs (456) and service aces (39).  Sears also totaled 250 kills, third-best on the squad.  Also an outside hitter, sophomore Mallory Carter led the conference in service aces with 68.  Carter also picked up 456 digs, third-best on the team.  Setters Courtney Anderson and Sam Block also return to Ashland as the duo combined for 868 assists. 

Washington and Lee (19-14, 8-2) returns several key players for last year’s squad including All-ODAC First Team choice, senior middle blocker Louise Brooks.  Brooks finished third on the Generals’ squad with 296 kills, while also registering 24 aces.  Senior outside hitter Marah Schmitz connected on 2.76 kills per game, while picking up 127 digs.  Sophomore defense specialist Cameron Hill, an All-ODAC Honorable Mention pick in 2009, led the team in digs with 502.  Senior setter/defense specialist Jenna Finger recorded 218 digs and 30 aces. 

Lynchburg (20-8, 8-2) is led by three players who each garnered 2009 All-ODAC Second Team honors in junior outside hitter Elena Kritter, sophomore middle hitter Rebecca Loftis and senior outside hitter Michelle Boucher.  Kritter finished second on the team in kills (252), aces (38) and digs (351).  Loftis led the league with a .394 hitting percentage, while also finishing first on the team with 87 blocks.  Boucher finished atop the squad in kills with 256.  Setters Brooke Moughon and Rachel Turk combined for 968 assists a season ago. 

Virginia Wesleyan (23-9, 6-4) welcomes back several noteworthy players.  Senior setter Marissa Wood finished third in the league with 9.43 assists per game, passing out 1,066  total helpers.  She also tallied 24 aces and 170 digs.  Senior right side Lindsey Spears returns after earning 2009 All-ODAC Honorable Mention accolades.  Spears posted 283 kills, second-best on the team, while also registering 42 aces.  She finished third on the team with 262 digs.  Junior middle hitter Taylor Allen will also add depth to the Marlins’ team as she registered a team-best .281 hitting percentage a year ago. 

Roanoke (15-17, 4-6) entered the 2009 ODAC Volleyball Tournament as the seventh seed, but made a successful run in the tournament before eventually falling to top-seeded Randolph-Macon.  Returning for the Maroons is senior outside hitter Maggie Wagner.  Wagner finished third in the league with 3.19 kills per game (361 total).  She also totaled 414 digs.  Junior outside hitter Kelsey Largen finished second on the team in kills (299) and aces (28), while senior middle blocker Kylie Lucas recorded 53 blocks, second on the squad. 

Bridgewater (13-17, 7-3) boasts a young squad following the graduation of some key veterans.  The Eagles are led by outside hitters Candice Guy and Ashley Scott.  Guy finished second on the team with 2.48 kills per game, while Scott followed closely behind connecting on 2.46 kills per contest.    Sophomore middle hitter Katie Baker led the team with 101 total blocks. 

Emory & Henry (20-7, 6-4) has a solid core returning for the 2010 campaign.  Junior middle hitter Kim Caudill totaled 203 kills to finish second on the team, while also registering 79 total blocks.  Jamie Cockerham and Tessa Burton return as outside hitters.  Cockerham finished the year registering 1.42 kills per contest, while Burton completed the season with 1.50 kills per game. 

Guilford (12-15, 3-7) welcomes back junior Taylor Phillips as the Quakers’ setter.  The honorable mention passer finished fifth in the conference with 7.26 assists per game, dishing out 653 total helpers.  Sophomore outside hitter Brittany Freeman finished first on the team in kills (250) and service aces (36), while senior outside hitter Courtney Kozar notched 174 kills, second-best on the squad. 

Eastern Mennonite (10-20, 3-7), Randolph (2-26, 1-9) and Sweet Briar (2-21, 0-10) all look to make strides toward a successful season and gain a post-season berth.  Junior outside hitter Tabitha Bowman and senior middle blocker Monika Burkholder return to the Royals’ team.  Bowman finished first on their squad with 2.34 kills per game (241 total), while Burkholder notched 29 service aces on the season, third on the team.  Senior middle blocker Kristin Spinner leads the WildCats back out onto the court after recording team-bests in blocks (28), kills (201) and hitting percentage (.113).  The Vixens will look to hitters Cassidy Jones and Ashley Winters to make a difference this year.  Jones recorded 2.23 kills per contest a season ago, while Winters registered a team-best 26 service aces. 

Listed below is the 2010 ODAC Volleyball Preseason Poll.  For more information, visit any of the participating schools’ websites, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don’t forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook by clicking HERE.  You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter by clicking HERE.

2010 ODAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes