Emory Volleyball No. 2 In AVCA Preseason Division III Poll

When the Emory volleyball squad hits the court on Friday for its first practices of the 2011 campaign, it will finds itself as the No. 2-ranked team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll.  It marks the seventh straight year that the Eagles have been ranked fifth or better in the preseason rankings and the fourth consecutive campaign that they have been tabbed for third or higher. 

Head Coach Jenny McDowell enters her 16th season at the helm of the program with a total of 12 letterwinners, including six with starting experience, back in the fold from last year's club that fashioned an overall won-lost ledger of 36-5.  Along the way, the Eagles captured their fourth University Athletic Association Championship in six years while also advancing to the title match of the NCAA Division III Championships for the second time in three seasons.  

Fifth-year senior Amelia McCall, the 2010 AVCA Division III Player of the Year, highlights the returnees which also includes junior Breanah Boruque,  a Second Team All-American a year ago, senior outside hitter Jessica McAlvany, a Third Team All-American and senior setter Natalie Schonefeld, who landed honorable mention All-America kudos.

Emory totaled 577 points in the poll and trailed only defending NCAA Division III titlist Calvin College's No. 1 mark of 599 points.  Calvin topped the Eagles in last season's national championship match.  UAA rival Washington University holds down the No. 3 spot with 552 points while Christopher Newport (511) and Wittenberg (490) round out the top five, respectively.  The UAA had a total of four representatives in the preseason rankings with New York University (#21) and Chicago (#25) the other conference squads to be included.

The Eagles open the 2011 campaign the weekend of Sept. 2-3 when they compete at the Wittenberg Invitational.

To see the preseason poll, click here.