Murray State University Athletics
Norris, Chesney Make All-OVC Pre-Season Teams
8/9/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Racer volleyball began its pre-season workouts on Wednesday, and was ranked fifth in this year's Ohio Valley Conference pre-season poll, released today by the conference office.
Murray State (19-8, 11-5 OVC last season) garnered 133 points in the poll, one point behind fourth-place Tennessee State and three points behind third-place Eastern Kentucky. League coaches and sports information contacts took part in the poll and could not vote for their own teams. Teams received 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second-place vote, and so on.
Junior libero and 2006 All-American Heather Norris was named to the All-OVC Pre-Season First Team, while sophomore setter Cassie Chesney was named to the All-OVC Pre-Season Second Team.
Joining Norris on the First Team were: Abbey Breit, Jacksonville State; Erin Peak, Morehead State; Brittany Nobilio, Eastern Kentucky; Kelly Davis, Tennessee State; Brittney Whitten, Jacksonville State; and Eliza Zwettler, Eastern Illinois. Norris was one of two juniors named to the First Team.
Joining Chesney on the Second Team were: Brenna Schlader, Southeast Missouri; Katelyn Barbour, Morehead State; Kathryn Sprague, Tennessee-Martin; Kappy Lang, Tennessee Tech; Amanda Lindgren, Tennessee Tech; and Rebekah Nichols, Jacksonville State. Chesney was one of only three sophomores named to both teams, and was the only sophomore setter.
Defending OVC champion Jacksonville State was picked to repeat in the pre-season poll, garnering 18 of a possible 20 first-place votes and a total of 197 points. Morehead State claimed three first-place votes and 160 points to rank second in the poll. Eastern Kentucky was third at 136 points, followed by Tennessee State in fourth at 134, Murray State in fifth at 133, Southeast Missouri at 125, Tennessee Tech at 103, Tennessee-Martin at 96, Eastern Illinois at 63, Samford at 33 and Austin Peay at 30.
Murray State opens the 2007 season on Aug. 24 against Arkansas-Little Rock at the Mississippi State Microtel Classic.
