Aug. 12, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Clemson University has been picked as the team to beat in the upcoming 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference volleyball season, according to the ACC Volleyball Preseason Poll. The Tigers received eleven first-place votes and totaled 143 points in the poll, which is determined by a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches. Clemson returns five starters from last year’s ACC Champion squad that finished at 29-4 and 21-1 in league play.

Georgia Tech is predicted to finish second in the ACC race this year, as the Yellow Jackets earned one first-place vote and 130 points. Duke, an NCAA participant the last three seasons, placed third with 119 points.

The league’s head coaches voted North Carolina fourth, and placed Florida State and Virginia in a tie for fifth place. The Tar Heels tallied 102 points, while FSU and Virginia each finished with 84 points.

Rounding out spots seven through 12 are Maryland (68), Virginia Tech (66), Miami (53), Wake Forest (46), Boston College (28) and NC State (13).

2008 Preseason All-ACC Volleyball Team
Clemson: Danielle Hepburn, Kelsey Murphy, Jeannette Abbott, Didem Ege. Duke: Rachael Moss, Jourdan Norman. Florida State: Mira Djuric, Brianna Barry. Georgia Tech: Talisa Kellogg. Callie Miller. Maryland: Mary Beth Brown. Miami: Genny Mayhew. North Carolina: Christine Vaughen, Brianna Eskola. Virginia: Shannon Davis, Lauren Dickson. Virginia Tech: Felicia Willoughby. Wake Forest: Natalie Mullikin.