CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Liberty University’s volleyball team has been chosen first in the Big South Conference’s annual preseason poll, as voted by the League’s Head Volleyball Coaches.  In addition, the coaches voted Winthrop middle hitter Shannon Sitzmann the League’s Preseason Player of the Year for the second-straight year, it was announced today by the Big South office.

Liberty, under the direction of head coach Shane Pinder, received eight first-place votes and 80 out of a possible 81 points as the Lady Flames look to defend their 2007 Big South Championship.  Liberty went 27-9 last season with an 11-1 Conference record.  The Lady Flames finished ahead of Winthrop in the poll, as the Eagles received one first-place vote and 71 points.  High Point finished third in the voting with 60 points, while Coastal Carolina captured the fourth spot with 52 points.  UNC Asheville rounded out the top five with 48 points.  Big South newcomers Presbyterian tallied 33 points, which was good for the No. 6 position and fellow new member Gardner-Webb notched 25 points to finish at the No. 7 slot.  Charleston Southern received 21 points to finish at No. 8, while Radford picked up 15 points to round out the voting.

Sitzmann, a middle hitter from LeMars, Iowa, returns for her senior season after being named the 2007 Big South Conference Player of the Year.  She finished last season ranked No. 1 in the Big South in kills with 4.24 kills per game, while leading the League with 1.11 blocks per game.  Sitzmann posted eight 20-kill matches a season ago and ranked No. 2 in the Big South with a .333 hitting percentage. 

Also voted to the preseason All-Conference team were Liberty’s Kallie Corbin, who picked up five Preseason Player of the Year votes, and Nicki Scripko, UNC Asheville’s Raquel Miotto, Megan Bickford of Coastal Carolina, Kristina Taylor from High Point and Presbyterian’s Kelsey McKee.

The 2008 Big South volleyball season begins Friday, August 29, with 10 matches scheduled.  The women’s volleyball Conference Championship is slated for Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 20-22 on the campus of UNC Asheville.

2008 Big South Conference Preseason Volleyball Poll

Rk Team (first-place votes)  1  2  3  4  5  6  7 8 9  Points
1. Liberty (8)                      72 8 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 80
2. Winthrop (1)                  9 48 14 -- -- -- -- -- -- 71
3. High Point                     -- 16 28 6 10 -- -- -- -- 60
4. Coastal Carolina            -- -- -- 42 10 -- -- -- -- 52
5. UNC Asheville              -- -- 21 -- 15 12 -- -- -- 48
6. Presbyterian                   -- -- -- 6 10 8 6 2 1       33
7. Gardner-Webb                -- -- -- -- -- 4 18 2 1   25
8. Charleston Southern         -- -- -- -- -- 8 3 8 2     21
9. Radford                           -- -- -- -- -- 4 -- 6 5    15