Murray State University Athletics
Racers picked first in pre-season poll; Sun, Wong named to OVC first team
8/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team, the defending Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champion, was picked to finish first in the 2004 OVC Pre-Season Poll, according to a release issued by the conference office today.
The Racers (24-6 last season, 9-7 in OVC play) took eight of 11 first-place votes to claim the top spot with 97 points. Jacksonville State (22-9, 12-6 OVC) took the remaining three first-place votes and ranked second on the pre-season poll with 91 points.
Morehead State (21-11, 14-2 OVC) was third with 79 points, followed closely by Eastern Kentucky (20-14, 10-6 OVC) with 77 points. Southeast Missouri State (11-19, 10-6 OVC) was fifth with 60 points, followed by Austin Peay (16-16, 10-6 OVC) with 56 points, Eastern Illinois (9-23, 6-10 OVC) with 41 points, Tennessee Tech (10-19, 5-11 OVC) with 34 points, both Samford (12-18, 6-10 OVC) and Tennessee-Martin (6-26, 5-11 OVC) tied for seventh with 30 points and Tennessee State (6-26, 1-15 OVC) with 10 points.
Teams received 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second-place vote, etc. Balloting was done by the league's head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
This is the second straight season for the Racers to be picked at the top of the OVC pre-season poll.
In the pre-season All-OVC teams, junior outside hitter Paige Sun -- the OVC's first-ever All-American and an OVC Honorable Mention last season -- was the top vote-getter in the pre-season balloting, topping the All-OVC First Team roster.
Junior setter Nikki Wong, an All-OVC Second Team selection last year, was second in the voting, also earning a spot on the All-OVC Pre-Season First Team for the second straight season.
Sophomore right-side hitter Lilly Zhan, an All-OVC Honorable Mention last season, earned a spot on the All-OVC Pre-Season Second Team.
"I'm really excited at the respect the other coaches gave our program," said MSU head coach David Schwepker. "It's a nice honor. Now, we have a lot to live up to, since the target is on our backs. We need to really work hard in the gym this pre-season."
Those chosen to the All-OVC Pre-Season First Team were: junior outside hitter Paige Sun, Murray State; junior setter Nikki Wong, Murray State; senior outside hitter Jennifer Kennedy, Morehead State; sophomore middle blocker Shari Weyer, Jacksonville State; junior middle blocker Liz Guard, Eastern Kentucky; and senior setter Casie Garland, Morehead State.
Those chosen to the All-OVC Pre-Season Second Team were: senior outside hitter Erica Gerth, Eastern Illinois; sophomore right-side hitter Lilly Zhan; senior outside hitter Leigh Reiniche, Tennessee-Martin; sophomore outside hitter Jessica Starck, Jacksonville State; senior outside hitter Sarah Schramka, Austin Peay; and senior outside hitter Lesley Aldridge, Eastern Kentucky.
Murray State opens its 2004 season on Sept. 3 against Indiana in the Indiana Invitational. The Racers open their home and conference season on Sept. 24 against defending OVC regular-season champion Morehead State.
