Hornets debut at No. 3 in volleyball poll
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Emporia State volleyball team’s goal is to make Nationals this year for the first time. If you ask the coaches in the American Volleyball Coaches Association, they believe the Hornets will do so.
Emporia State will open the 2009 season as the third-ranked team in the Division II Coaches poll, the highest preseason ranking and highest-ever ranking for the Hornets.
ESU is one of five MIAA teams in the top 17. Truman is ranked ninth, Washburn 11th, followed by Central Missouri at No. 12 and Pittsburg State is 17th. Defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul is ranked first and last year’s national runner-up Cal State San Bernardino is ranked second.
Emporia State returns four of its six starters, including first-team All-American Ting Liu and third-team All-American Arica Shepard. The Hornets went 34-4 and won the MIAA championship for the first time last season. They advanced to the Regional championship and lost to Truman, a team they had beaten twice during the regular season.
The Hornets open their season on Aug. 28 at the UNO Volleyball Showcase in Omaha, Neb. They will play their first home match on Sept. 18 against Missouri Western.
Season tickets are on sale at the ESU Athletic Ticket office, located in the ESU Memorial Union.
AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll
1. Concordia-St. Paul (36 first-place votes)
2. Cal State San Bernardino
3. Emporia State
4. Grand Valley State
5. West Texas A&M
6. Nebraska-Kearney
7. Minnesota Duluth
8. Southwest Minnesota State
9. Truman
10. Tampa
11. Washburn
12. Central Missouri
13. UC San Diego
14. California (Pa.)
15. West Florida
16. Florida Southern
17. Pittsburg State
18. Cal Poly Pomona
19. Nova Southeastern
20. Cal State L.A.
21. Lewis
22. Augustana (S.D.)
23. Western Washington
24. Western Oregon
25. Wayne State (Neb.)
Others Receiving Votes and listed on two or more ballots: Minnesota State 39; Saginaw Valley State 25; Northern Kentucky 13; Dowling 11; Indianapolis 11; Sonoma State 10; Chico State 9; Wingate 9; Armstrong Atlantic State 6; Northern Michigan 2