Stevens Enters Empire 8 Volleyball as Favorite
August 15, 2007
ROCHESTER, NY – Stevens Institute of Technology begins its first season of Empire 8 volleyball play as the coaches’ choice to finish first in the preseason poll. The Ducks, who received six first-place votes, finished 34-6 last year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship.
This season will feature two conference weekends in which all conference matches will take place. St. John Fisher College will host the first weekend Sept. 21-23 and Alfred University will serve as host for the second weekend Oct. 19-21. The championship tournament featuring the top four teams in regular season play will be hosted by the top seed on Nov. 3.
Senior outside hitter Dawn Herring of the Ducks was named Skyline Conference Player of the Year last season and joined Melissa Rhode, a junior setter/right-side hitter, as NCAA Division III All-New York Region Team selections.
Rochester Institute of Technology, which earned the top seed in last year’s conference championship and advanced to the title game, was a narrow pick by the coaches to place second this season. Three Tigers earned all-conference recognition a year ago, including first-team selection Cecilia Enestrom, who led the team in kills and hitting percentage.
Ithaca College, Empire 8 champions in 2004 and 2005, are the preseason selection to finish third this season. The Bombers swept the individual conference honors last year with Amanda Hubbard being named Player of the Year, Mary Schaefer chosen as Defensive Player of the Year, and Corinna Doctor earning Rookie of the Year honors. Hubbard, Doctor, and Katie Hause were all first-team all-conference selections.
Defending conference champion Nazareth College, which captured its fourth title last year after entering the championship tournament as the third seed, is the pick to finish fourth in the preseason poll. Junior outside hitter Laura Persico was named to the all-conference first team in 2006.
According to the preseason poll, the coaches expect St. John Fisher and Elmira College to finish in the middle of the standings this season. Kelly Greapentrog takes over the helm for the Cardinals, who earned the final tournament berth a year ago. The Soaring Eagles must replace two-time first-team all-conference outside hitter Jess Mezei.
Hartwick College was the coaches’ selection to finish seventh this season. Abby Cummings and Darcy Dolge received honorable mention all-conference recognition last year.
Utica College and Alfred University were picked to place eighth and ninth, respectively.
2007 Empire 8 Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Stevens Institute of Technology (6 first-place votes) 60 points
2. Rochester Institute of Technology (2) 53
3. Ithaca College (1) 52
4. Nazareth College 49
5. St. John Fisher College 32
6. Elmira College 31
7. Hartwick College 24
8. Utica College 14
9. Alfred University 9