By: By: Bill Morgal, Sports Information Director
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Shippensburg University volleyball team has been voted third in the 2010 PSAC Eastern Division Preseason Coaches Poll, while Lock Haven was tabbed as the divisional favorite and received all seven first-place votes. Cal was voted as the preseason favorite in the highly competitive Western Division.
The Lady Raider volleyball team has reached the PSAC semifinals in each of the last three seasons under head coach
Leanne Piscotty, but the Lady Raiders are hoping to get one step farther and do something it hasn't accomplished since Piscotty's first season in 2004: reach the PSAC Championship game.
SU enters the 2010 campaign with a youth-laden roster that boasts just three juniors and no seniors. Five integral seniors have departed the roster, but seven talented freshmen and one junior transfer will be joining a group of nine talented returning players.
Piscotty and assistant coach
Abby Leonard have continually guided the program to success at the conference and regional level. Shippensburg has recorded five seasons of at least 21 wins over the last six years and is looking to maintain this consistency.
Junior
Libby Woffindin will be an integral team leader this season and figures to see regular time at middle hitter. Sophomore
Andrea Heimsoth became an integral setter in her debut season and figures to once again be among the primary contributors this season.
Shippensburg's season begins September 3 with the Catawba College Invitational. SU faces Lenoir-Rhyne at 2 p.m. and Armstrong Atlantic State at 8 p.m. on the first night of the two-day tournament.
Eastern Division
1. Lock Haven (7)
2. West Chester
3. Shippensburg
4. Kutztown
T5. East Stroudsburg
T5. Millersville
7. Cheyney
Western Division
1. California (3)
2. Clarion (2)
3. Gannon (1)
4. Edinboro (1)
5. Mercyhurst
6. Indiana (Pa.)
7. Slippery Rock