NCAC Volleyball

Edited: Aug. 25, 2010

WITTENBERG TOPS PRESEASON POLL AS NORTH COAST READIES FOR 27TH VOLLEYBALL SEASON

Wittenberg University emerged as the preseason favorite in balloting by North Coast Athletic Conference volleyball coaches in the 2010 preseason poll.

The Tigers, who captured their fourth straight NCAC title last season after going 16-0 in league play, earned all eight first-place votes from league coaches to total 64 points. Wittenberg finished ahead of Hiram by nine points. The Terriers, who last won the NCAC title in 2005, totaled 55 points. Wooster (48) tallied the next highest point total and ranked third in the preseason balloting, while Allegheny (34), Oberlin (33), Denison (22), Ohio Wesleyan (21) and Kenyon (11) rounded out the poll.

Wittenberg, which enters the 2010 season ranked No. 11 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll, will be under the direction of eighth-year head coach Paco Labrador. Labrador has compiled an overall record of 227-35 while at the helm of the Tigers program. After going 16-0 in league play last season, the Tigers have now won 128 of their last 129 NCAC matches, dating back to the 1997 season. Wittenberg will return twelve letterwinners in 2010, led by 2009 first-team All-NCAC selection junior middle hitter Katie Sumner (Dublin, OH/Bishop Watterson) and 2009 second-team All-NCAC selection senior setter/outside hitter Amy Cox (Newark, OH/Newark Catholic). Sumner averaged 1.97 kills per game and tallied 189 service aces in 2009, while Cox averaged 2.15 kills per game and was second on the squad with 67 total blocks.

Founded in 1983, the North Coast Athletic Conference is made up of nine academically selective colleges and universities - Allegheny College, Denison University, Hiram College, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Wabash College, Wittenberg University and the College of Wooster, along with affiliate member, Earlham College (field hockey). DePauw University will join the North Coast beginning with the 2011-12 academic year. The NCAC sponsors 23 championship sports, 11 for men and 12 for women.

2010 NCAC Volleyball Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points)

1.	Wittenberg (8)	64
2.	Hiram	55
3.	Wooster	48
4.	Allegheny	34
5.	Oberlin	33
6.	Denison	22
7.	Ohio Wesleyan	21
8.	Kenyon	11