Thursday, August 23, 2007
From Middle Atlantic Conferences Office
FDU-FLORHAM FAVORED TO WIN FREEDOM
CONFERENCE
CHAMPIONSHIP IN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
(King's Picked Second in Poll)
Annville, PA – FDU-Florham has been named
as the favorite to be the Freedom Conference champion in a preseason
poll of conference coaches.
FDU-Florham received five first place votes and a
total of 42 points. The Devils placed third in the conference standings
last season with a 21-13 record. Losing to Lycoming in last years
semifinals, the 2007 season looks to be bright as they make a run at the
championship title.
Returning seniors Holly Farricy (outside hitter,
176 kills), Christa SanFlippo (outside hitter, 187 kills) and sophomore
Meghan Droge are the leaders who will look to guide the Devils.
King’s placed second in the poll with 36 total
points and two first place votes. Finishing in fourth place (18-12), the
Lady Monarchs welcome many new players in hopes of challenging for the
conference title.
Leading the Lady Monarch’s in the 2007 season will
be second-team All-Conference players Kat Clerici (sophomore, middle
hitter, 310 kills) and Kaitlyn Malshefski (sophomore, outside hitter 345
kills). Danielle Belfanti (sophomore) moves to her recruited role of
defensive specialist after playing setter as a freshman due to King's
landing highly-regarded rookie setter Samantha Garrigues of California.
With the addition of new faces and the experience of the returning
players, look for the Lady Monarchs to leave their mark in the
conference.
DeSales was third in the poll with 29 points.
Finishing fifth last year at 10-21 the Bulldogs, the expectations are
high for DeSales to make a strong push to the championship in 2007.
Keys to the Bulldogs’ success will be versatile 2006 Freedom Conference
Rookie of the Year Jen Mellon (sophomore, outside hitter, 422 kills),
junior Kerri Andrews (return specialist, 172 kills) and senior Allie
Boyer (senior, outside hitter, 144 kills). Also, 2005 Rookie of the Year
Joann Rivera returns after an early-season knee injury last year.
Wilkes received 27 points in the poll placing them
fourth. Looking to improve on last years six place finish with the
record of 6-24, the Colonels are optimistic about the season with a
large freshmen class.
Arcadia was selected fifth with 26 total points.
The Knights ended the 2006 season at 11-13. While the team will lose two
seniors from their starting six, the team will return a core group of
sophomores and juniors with two to three years of experiences playing
together as they enter a new conference. Junior middle hitter Alex
Cann (senior, 246 kills) earned PAC second team honors.
Delaware Valley (11-17) came in sixth in this
year’s poll with 22 points. Hoping to improve on last year’s record, the
Aggies will look to key returning players to turn the program around.
Senior Andrea Held (middle hitter, 227 kills) and Angel Bulger
(freshman, outside hitter, 122 kills) will be the key to their success.
Manhattanville received 14 points for seventh
place. The Valiants’ re-launch its intercollegiate volleyball team under
head coach Elizabeth Ching-Bush. This marks the first season of Valiant
volleyball since 2002, when the team competed in the Skyline Conference.
Freedom Conference Pre-Season Volleyball Poll
1. FDU-Florham, 42 pts. (5)
2. King’s, 36 pts. (2)
3. DeSales, 29 pts.
4. Wilkes, 27 pts.
5. Arcadia, 26 pts.
6. Delaware Valley, 22 pts.
7. Manhattanville, 14 pts.
First Place Votes in Parenthesis
as of 8/23/07
