LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - West Chester University's women's volleyball squad was picked to finish second behind perennial powerhouse Lock Haven University in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason coaches' poll it was announced by the loop Monday morning.
West Chester (23-15, 8-11 PSAC) finished tied for second place with both Kutztown and Shippensburg a year ago. The Golden Rams received the fourth seed out of the Eastern Division in the playoffs and fell to Eastern Division champion Lock Haven in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament.
Shippensburg came in third in the East and was followed by Kutztown in fourth. East Stroudsburg and Millersville tied for fifth place while Cheyney rounded out the poll in seventh. In the West, California (Pa.) received three first-place votes to edge out second-place Clarion by just two points. Gannon and Edinboro placed third and fourth, respectively. Mercyhurst, IUP and Slippery Rock rounded out the poll.
Last year, for the second time in the last three seasons, the PSAC had six teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament – California (Pa.), Clarion, Edinboro, Gannon, Lock Haven and Mercyhurst, with Cal winning the regional and advancing the NCAA Elite Eight for the third straight season.
Head Coach Kassie Bellaver has won at least 20 games in each of the last three seasons and has finished as high as second place in the last two campaigns. She returns all six starters and lost just one senior off the bench from last year's team. First team all-leaguers, Michelle Powers and Helen Fitzpatrick return, along with second team honorees Lisa Campbell and Lexi Kegerise.
West Chester opens its 2010 slate on Sept. 3-4 at the Kutztown Tournament. The Golden Rams will face C.W. Post, St. Rose and LeMoyne that weekend.
2010 PSAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Eastern Division
1. Lock Haven (7)
2. West Chester
3. Shippensburg
4. Kutztown
T5. East Stroudsburg
T5. Millersville
7. Cheyney
Western Division
1. California (3)
2. Clarion (2)
3. Gannon (1)
4. Edinboro (1)
5. Mercyhurst
6. IUP
7. Slippery Rock
