July 25, 2002

GREENSBORO - The North Carolina Tar Heels have been selected as the top pick for the upcoming 2002 ACC Volleyball season, as determined by a vote of the league's nine head coaches. Maryland, one of four teams returning at least four starters, was chosen to finish fourth behind Duke and Georgia Tech. Each of the top four teams chosen in the 2002 ACC preseason volleyball rankings all return four or more starters.

UNC, the three-time defending ACC Tournament Champions (1999, 2000, 2001) collected 78 points to edge out the defending regular-season champion Duke, who notched 69 points. The Tar Heels return ten letterwinners from last year's squad and five starters, including 2001 ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Malaika Underwood. North Carolina downed South Carolina in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Pepperdine in the second-round.

Duke, the 2001 ACC regular-season champion, is slated to finish second. The Blue Devils return four starters from last season, including first-team All-ACC performer Josie Weymann and second-team honoree Krista Dill. Duke advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive year, defeating William & Mary in the first round before falling to Southern California in the second.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are predicted to finish third (63 points), after finishing tied for third in the 2001 ACC regular season. Georgia Tech returns eight letterwinners and four starters including All-ACC performers Lynnette Monster, Kele Eveland, and the 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year Lauren Sauer. The Yellow Jackets advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year, before dropping to Louisville in the first round.

Fourth-ranked Maryland (45 points), 12-14 last season, also returns four starters including All-ACC hitter Carey Brennan. Brennan joins senior setter Lindsay Davey, senior blocker Amanda Ayres and junior hitter Lynnsy Jones as top returning players for the Terrapins. The Terps fell to defending champ North Carolina in the semifinals of last year's ACC Tournament, and hope to challenge for their first regular season title since 1997.

Completing the preseason poll in order of finish are Florida State (42), Clemson (38), Wake Forest (36), Virginia (24), and NC State (10). Below is a listing of the pre-season coaches' poll with 2001 records and regular season finishes.

2002 ACC Preseason Volleyball Poll
School                 Points    2001 Record/Finish
1.  North Carolina      78       24-9, 12-4 ACC/T2nd
2.  Duke                69       23-5, 13-3 ACC/1st
3.  Georgia Tech        63       19-8, 12-4 ACC/T2nd
4.  Maryland            45       12-14, 7-9 ACC/6th
5.  Florida State       42       17-12, 10-6 ACC/T3rd
6.  Clemson             38       11-17, 4-12 ACC/7th
7.  Wake Forest         36       20-11, 10-6 ACC/T3rd
8.  Virginia            24       9-18, 3-13 ACC/8th
9.  NC State            10       6-21, 1-15 ACC/9th