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UPS and PLU volleyball teams favored in conference

Wire
Published on: August 07, 2008

Neighbor colleges University of Puget Sound (UPS) and Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) are co-favorites for the 2008 Northwest Conference volleyball title, according to the preseason poll of conference coaches. UPS is just ahead of PLU in the poll in both first-place votes (5 to 4) and total points (80-78).

Puget Sound finished second to Pacific Lutheran in the final 2007 standings, but advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals and had a final record of 20-9 last fall. The Loggers return juniors Kalli Kamphaus and Lindsey Denman, who both earned Honorable Mention All-NWC on the front line last season. But First Team honorees Monica Groves and Rachel Gross have graduated.

PLU, which finished 23-4 overall and a perfect 16-0 in the NWC last fall, will be led by 2007 Northwest Conference Player of the Year Beth Hanna, who earned the award as a freshman. However the Lutes will have to overcome the graduation of First Team All-NWC setter Gina Di Maggio and Second Team All-NWC selections Megan Kosel and Stacie Matz.

Linfield finished 15-10 last season and is third in the poll with 60 points. The Wildcats lost First Team All-NWC hitter Katelyn Baker to graduation, but welcome back junior middle Emily Vuylsteke.

Whitworth University is fourth in the poll with 52 points after finishing 11-14 last fall. The Pirates will look to Second Team All-NWC middle Sarah Rusch to anchor the attack.

Pacific University had a breakthrough year in 2007, finishing fourth with an overall record of 14-9 after the Boxers were picked eighth in the preseason poll. However both All-NWC selections from last season, Anela Iseke and Jill Peacock, have graduated. Pacific is fifth in the 2008 poll with 43 points.

George Fox University (GFU) (34 points) is sixth in the poll, just ahead of Whitman College (29 points, seventh place) and Lewis & Clark College (28, eighth). GFU will have to overcome the graduation of leading hitter Elizabeth Anderson and setter Amy Batchelder. Whitman welcomes back First Team All-NWC middle Rosa Brey, while Lewis & Clark will look to Katherine Fiedler in the middle, who earned Second Team All-NWC honors as a freshman in 2007.

Willamette University (11 points) finished ninth in the poll and will be striving to finish above the cellar for the first time since 2004.

The 2008 season will get underway on Aug. 29 and 30 as several teams participate in early season tournaments.

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