Wingate Picked To Win 2007 SAC Volleyball Title

ROCK HILL, SC - Defending co-champion Wingate University, which has made three trips to the NCAA Tournament in the last four years, is picked to win the 2007 South Atlantic Conference volleyball title, according to a vote of the league's eight head coaches.

Wingate received five first-place votes and 60 total points.

The Bulldogs placed two on the preseason All-Conference volleyball team, which was also announced. Melissa DeLuca, the most valuable player in the 2006 Food Lion SAC Tournament, was named to the first team, while Jacki Emmenecker, a member of the All-Freshman and All-Tournament teams last year, was named to the second team.

Lenoir-Rhyne College, which has shared the conference title in two of the past three seasons, is picked to finish second. The Bears received one first-place vote and 47 total points.

The Bears also placed a league-high five on the preseason All-Conference team. Lauren McLelland and Abby Smith were both named to the first team, while Katie Novacek, Jordan Ledford and Catherine Fulton at the libero spot were second-team selections. Smith ranked fifth in the league in 2006 with 3.51 kills per game, while McLelland ranked third last year in assists per game.

Catawba College is third in the poll, receiving 44 total points and also garnering one first-place vote.

The Indians have three representatives on the preseason All-Conference team. Melissa Griffith and Melissa Powers were named to the first team, while Andi Henderson was named to the second team. Powers led the league in hitting percentage and kills per game last year en route to first-team All-Conference honors. Griffith was second in the league in kills per game.

Tusculum College comes in at fourth with 43 total points. The Pioneers also picked up one first-place vote.

The Pioneers have two first team preseason All-Conference selections in Vivian Lacy and Alexis Rowels at the libero position.

Carson-Newman is the pick to finish fifth. The Eagles received 35 points.

The Eagles placed two on the preseason All-Conference team. Kelli Sorensen, a returning first-team All-Conference selection, made the first team, while Katie Troyer an All-Freshman pick last season, is on the second team.

Lincoln Memorial is the pick to finish sixth. The Railsplitters received 28 points and will be competing for their first South Atlantic Conference championship in volleyball.

Newberry College, under first-year coach Matt Sonnichsen, received 19 points.

Lorena Maia, the SAC Freshman of the Year in 2006, is a second-team preseason All-SAC selection for the Lady Indians.

Rounding out the poll is Mars Hill. The Lions received 12 points.

Tiffany Oreka was named to the preseason All-Conference second team. She led the conference in digs per game last season.

The 2007 volleyball season begins Friday, August 24 with nine matches, including tournaments at Lenoir-Rhyne and Lincoln Memorial.

The Food Lion SAC Tournament will be held at Carson-Newman on Friday, November 9, with the finals on Saturday, November 10. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Tournament.

2007 SAC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL

Wingate (5) 60
Lenoir-Rhyne (1) 47
Catawba (1) 44
Tusculum (1) 43
Carson-Newman 35
Lincoln Memorial 28
Newberry 19
Mars Hill 12
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2007 SAC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

FIRST TEAM
Kelli Sorensen, Carson-Newman
Melissa Griffith, Catawba
Melissa Powers, Catawba
Lauren McLelland, Lenoir-Rhyne
Abby Smith, Lenoir-Rhyne
Vivian Lacy, Tusculum
Alexis Rowles, Tusculum (libero)
Melissa DeLuca, Wingate

SECOND TEAM
Katie Troyer, Carson-Newman
Andi Henderson, Catawba
Katie Novacek, Lenoir-Rhyne
Catherine Fulton, Lenoir-Rhyne (libero)
Jordan Ledford, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tiffany Oreka, Mars Hill
Lorena Maia, Newberry
Jacki Emmenecker, Wingate