Aug. 9, 2007

ATLANTA - The Georgia Tech volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the Atlantic Coast Conference, according to the preseason ACC coaches poll that was released this week.

Reigning ACC champion Duke received 142 points, including 10 of 12 first-place votes, and was tabbed to win the league again in 2007, while the Yellow Jackets finished second with 123 votes, including two first-place nods.

"It's a great honor to be recognized by our peers as one of the top teams in the conference," Georgia Tech head coach Bond Shymansky said Thursday. "There is no question about it though - We are in it to win it and that's our goal this fall."

Virginia finished third in the voting with 116 points, just three votes ahead of Clemson (113). Florida State (95) and North Carolina (72) rounded out the top half of the poll.

The Yellow Jackets return 12 of 13 letterwinners from the 2006 team that finished 20-12 and fifth in the ACC. Two members of the 2007 squad, Ulrike Stegemann, an honorable mention All-America in 2006, and Lindsey Gray, a second-team All-ACC honoree a year ago, have also been tabbed to the preseason All-ACC squad.

Duke led all teams with three selections while Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia had two apiece.

The Yellow Jackets began preseason drills Wednesday and open the season at the Arkansas Invitational in two weeks.

2007 ACC Volleyball Preseason Poll

Team	 	 	Points	2006 Record
1. Duke (10)	 	142	29-4
2. Georgia Tech (2)	123	20-12
3. Virginia		116	23-8
4. Clemson		113	20-10
5. Florida State		95	19-12
6. North Carolina		72	11-20
7. Virginia Tech		68	17-14
8. Wake Forest		65	14-17
9. Maryland		51	13-18
10. Miami			45	12-19
11. Boston College		32	12-19
12. NC State 		14	2-29

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.