University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Volleyball Picked 14th In C-USA Poll
8/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Southern Miss Volleyball Picked 14th In C-USA Poll
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? The Conference USA office released the league?s volleyball coaches poll today, predicting Southern Miss to finish 14th in the 2002 season. Last season, the Golden Eagles (9-19, 4-12) finished tied for 11th in the C-USA standings.
Louisville is projected to win the 2002 C-USA championship. The Cardinals return four starters, including preseason all-league selection Sonja Percan, from a club that made its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season.
South Florida?s Michelle Collier, who set the C-USA career record for kills average (5.69) and ranks second with 1,999 career kills on the league?s all-time kill list, is slated as the 2002 Preseason Player of the Year.
Coach Santiago Restrepo begins his second season leading the Golden Eagles. The squad welcomes back five starters from last season.
Southern Miss starts the season with an appearance at the McNeese State Tournament, on Aug. 30-31, in Lake Charles, La. The Golden Eagles first home match is against South Alabama, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. All home matches will be held in the Payne Center this year.
2002 Conference USA Preseason Poll
1. Louisville (26-7, 13-3 in 2001)
2. Cincinnati (23-8, 14-2)
3. South Florida (21-9, 13-3)
4. Saint Louis (13-14, 8-8)
5. Houston (16-11, 12-4)
6. Tulane (16-14, 7-9)
7. DePaul (24-9, 11-5)
8. Marquette (19-13, 9-7)
9. Charlotte (15-15, 5-11)
10. East Carolina (8-21, 3-13)
11. UAB (12-17, 3-13)
12. Memphis (22-10, 7-9)
13. TCU (7-21, 3-13)
14. Southern Miss (9-19, 4-12)
Preseason All-League Team
Michelle Collier, South Florida*
Alessandra Domingos, South Florida
Colleen Hunter, Saint Louis
Sonja Percan, Louisville
Jennifer Tanneberger, Houston
Bonita Wise, Cincinnati
*Preseason Player of the Year
