Aug. 17, 2012

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Florida State, the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion from 2011, was predicted by the league’s 12 head coaches to win the ACC title again in 2012.

The Seminoles accumulated 118 of a possible 121 points, including nine first-place votes from the coaches. First-place votes were awarded 11 points, second place received 10 points, etc. Coaches were not allowed to include their own team in their predicted order of finish.

North Carolina picked up 111 points and the remaining three first-place votes. Clemson (97) and Duke (92) rounded out the top four teams. Miami’s 81 points put the Hurricanes in fifth, ahead of Georgia Tech (66), Virginia Tech (63) and NC State (56). Virginia (36), Maryland (34), Wake Forest (25), and Boston College (13) completed the predicted order.

A total of 10 teams are represented on the 2012 Preseason All-ACC Team. Clemson and Florida State led all conference schools with three selections, followed by Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami with two representatives.

Eleven of the 18 selections were voted to the 2011 All-ACC team, and seven were named Honorable Mention All-America by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Florida State returns five starters from last year’s squad that finished 18-2 in league play and reached the semifinals in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.

The season gets under way Friday, August 24, with 11 of the conference teams in action. The 2012 ACC volleyball champion will be determined by the final regular season standings, with that team receiving an automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Volleyball Championship.