August
27, 2008
Courtesy of the Middle
Atlantic Conferences Office:
King's Selected Fourth in Freedom Conference Volleyball Preseason
Poll
ANNVILLE, Pa. –
King’s (21-14, 3-3) King's
College was selected in fourth in the 2008 Freedom Conference poll
with 54 points.
The Lady Monarch’s team
saw its season come to an end as they dropped a 3-1 decision to
top-seeded DeSales in the Freedom Conference Tournament semi-finals
game.
Coach Bernie Kachinko is
the winningest coach in King's history with a 342-227 mark entering
the 2008 season. All-conference picks Kat Clerici and Kaitlyn
Malshefski will look to guide the Lady Monarchs back to post season
play. Clerici led the conference in hitting percentage at .400,
second in kills with 379 and second in blocks with 117. Malshefski
placed third in the conference in hitting percentage at .259, and
seventh in kills with 290.
DeSales University has been chosen as the favorite to win the Freedom
Conference crown. The Bulldogs (21-10, 6-0)
received 68 points in addition to four first place votes.
Picked to finish third in
last years' preseason poll with no first place votes, the DeSales
team defied all odds by winning its first ever Freedom Conference
championship with a 3-0 win over second seeded FDU-Florham. The win
was accompanied by an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament where
they were matched up with sixteenth seed Haverford. The storybook
season for the Bulldogs came to an end with a 3-0 loss.
Coach of the Year Michele
Zabinski has high hopes again for her team, as she returns several
key players. Set to defend their title are returning all-conference
players Jen Mellon, who led her team in kills with 347, Sharon
Uliana who led the conference in assists with 1,120, Joann Rivera
(344 kills), Kylie Fehnel (308 kills) and Kerri Andrews.
FDU-Florham (27-12, 5-1)
earns second place in the poll with 64 points and one first place
vote. Entering the conference
tournament as the number two seed, the College at Florham Devils
defeated number three seed Arcadia 3-0. In the championship game,
the Devils were knocked off by DeSales, 3-0. Rookie of the year Kerry
Kupperman (136 Kills) and Lauren Brazier (312 kills) are the
returning all-conference players who are set to guide their team
back to post season play.
Eastern (17-15, 11-0)
earns third place in the poll with 62 points and four first place
votes. Eastern will be entering
their first season of competition in the Freedom Conference. They
leave the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC), formerly known
as the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) after dominating that
conference. Making it to the CSAC finals last season, the Eagles had
previously won 11 consecutive conference championships before that.
Last season was the first season in eight years that they did not
reach the NCAA tournament.
Looking to make some noise
in their new conference, expect Eastern to make a strong push for
the conference championship. First team all-conference selection
Maddy Platt (279 kills), second team all-conference player Katie
Ressler (302 kills) and honorable mention Nicole Burns (211 kills)
will be key for the Eagles. Also look for 2006 PAC Player of the
Year Kara Hildebrand, who missed last season due to injury, to make
some noise.
Alvernia (10-14, 6-5)
comes in fifth place with 41 points. Last season in the PAC
semifinals, Alvernia lost to top seeded Eastern, 3-0. Now in a new
conference, the Crusaders will look to make their mark early in the
conference. No strangers to post season play, Alvernia will have to
rely on a lot of newcomers to propel them to the top. All-PAC second team setter
Leah Crimi, will have to use her experience and be the leader.
Wilkes (12-17, 2-4) earns
a sixth place mark in the poll while receiving 40 points. Wilkes saw their hopes for
a Freedom Conference playoff berth come to an end, when they dropped
a hard fought 3-2 decision at Arcadia. Hungry for post season
play, look for the Lady Colonels to make a strong push and surprise
some teams. Katherine Harrington who registered 257 kills will be
looked upon for her offensive scoring this season.
Misericordia
(14-11, 8-3) places seventh in the poll with 32 points. The Cougars season came to a disappointing
end with a 3-0 loss to Alvernia in the first round of the
Pennsylvania Athletic Conference playoffs. This will be
Misericordia’s first season in the new conference. Michelle DiCicco,
who led the team in kills with 211 and second in blocks with 44,
will return for her senior year.
Delaware Valley (11-13, 1-5) received 28 points for eighth place.
Looking to improve on last years sixth place finish, the Aggies will
look to Ashley Majewski (160 kills) to lead a young squad.
Manhattanville (2-19, 0-6) came in ninth in this year’s poll with 18
points.
Despite graduating three seniors, the young Manhattanville squad has
many players who should return to help the team improve in 2008,
including Christa Nessel.
Freedom Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. DeSales 68 points (4)
2. FDU-Florham 64 points (1)
3. Eastern 60 points (4)
4. King’s 54 points
5. Alvernia 41 points
6. Wilkes 40 points
7. Misericordia 32 points
8. Delaware Valley 28 points
9. Manhattanville 18 points
( ) first place votes in parentheses
