Bama Volleyball Tops Western Division in SEC Pre-Season Poll
8/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The University of Alabama topped the pre-season poll in the Western division and grabbed second place overall, the league announced today.
Florida grabbed the top seed in the East with 10 points along with 10 first place votes for the conference followed by Kentucky, who received one first place vote. Alabama came in second overall behind Florida with 14 points. Behind the Tide in the West is LSU, followed by Arkansas and Ole Miss. Auburn and Mississippi State round out the Western Division in the fifth and sixth place positions.
Coming off its second trip to the NCAA tournament, the Crimson Tide is looking re-claim the Western division title after losing it to LSU last season. Alabama returns five starters from last year's squad, including All-American and All-SEC middle blocker Crystal Hudson and All-SEC outside hitter Bridget Fuentez. Setter Brigitte Slack, opposite hitter Liz Salstrand and libero Amy Pauly rounds out the list of returning starters.
"I think it is a great spot for our team to be in to start the season," said Alabama head coach Judy Green. "Our team has high expectations and we have a lot of work to do to make ourselves a conference contender but I think the poll says a lot about the respect people have across the conference about our program. We have a lot of experience returning and being at the top is a goal for our team. Hopefully our work habits will reflect that as we go through the season."
Alabama also received votes on the national level today as the CSTV/AVCA released its top 25 coach's pre-season poll. The Nebraska Cornhuskers received the No. 1 spot after its 33-1 campaign en route to the NCAA Division I national championship. The Stanford Cardinal took the No. 2 slot and the Penn State Nittany Lions rounded out the top three in third.
The Tide received top 25 votes on 22 coach's ballots, placing them just outside a national ranking to start the 2007 season.
"I think it is very exciting that our name is in there amongst the best programs in the nation," said Green. "It is something we strive for but it's not something we are going to talk about on a daily basis. If we do move into the top 25 it will be a reward of the work we started putting in last January and will continue into the regular season."
Alabama opens the season in Norman, Okla. at the OU Sooner Legends/Nike Invitational Aug. 24 ?? 25. The Tide faces off against Seton Hall Friday, August 24 before facing Denver and No. 22 Oklahoma on Saturday, August 25.
Alabama's home schedule opens with UAB Friday, August 31 at 12:30 p.m. at the Academy Sports Bama Bash in the CAVE.
For season tickets contact the Alabama Ticket Office at 205.348.2262, or visit www.ROLLTIDE.com.
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