Aug. 8, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Duke University volleyball team has been chosen as the early favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 2007, according to the ACC Preseason Poll. The poll, which includes votes of head volleyball coaches from each of the conference's 12 member institutions, was in clear favor of Duke, awarding the Blue Devils ten first-place votes and a total of 142 of a possible 144 points.

Duke, led by 2006 ACC Coach of the Year Jolene Nagel, returns 11 lettermen from last year's 29-4 squad, including reigning Player of the Year Ali Hausfeld, first-team all-conference performer Carrie DeMange and 2006 ACC Freshman of the Year Rachael Moss.

Coming in second with two first-place votes and 123 total points was Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets, led by Head Coach Bond Shymansky, return the bulk of a team that finished 20-12 last season and handed the ACC champion Blue Devils their only conference loss.

Rounding out the top five are Virginia, Clemson and Florida State with 116, 113 and 95 points, respectively.

North Carolina (72), Virginia Tech (68), Wake Forest (65), Maryland (51), Miami (45), Boston College (32) and NC State (14) make up the rest of the list, claiming spots six through 12.

2007 ACC Volleyball Preseason Poll

2007 Volleyball Preseason All-ACC Team

Jeannette Abbott, Clemson; Brianna Barry, Florida State; Jade Brown, Maryland; Carrie DeMange, Duke; Didem Ege, Clemson; Beth Gillming, Maryland; Lindsey Gray, Georgia Tech; Ali Hausfeld, Duke; Danielle Hepburn, Clemson; Sarah Kirkwood, Virginia; Ciara Michel, Miami; Rachael Moss, Duke; Natalie Mullikin, Wake Forest; Katie Oakes, Virginia; Taylor Parrish, Virginia Tech; Jenny Shull, Duke; Ulrike Stegemann, Georgia Tech; Makini Thompson, Florida State.