8-27-08

ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lycoming College women’s volleyball team was picked to finish in a tie for fifth in the Commonwealth Conference, as announced in the preseason poll released by the league office on Wednesday. The Lady Warriors will open the fall with a scrimmage tonight against Penn College at 7 p.m. in Lamade Gymnasium.

Lebanon Valley claimed the top spot in the poll with 42 points and five first-place votes. The Dutchmen placed second to Elizabethtown last season after finishing with a record of 22-10.

Messiah was picked second in the poll with 36 points and the remaining two first-place votes. The Falcons were followed by Elizabethtown (35), Widener (27), Lycoming (21), Albright (21), and Arcadia (15), who joins the Commonwealth Conference this season.

The Lady Warriors finished the 2007 season in fifth place with an overall record of 5-30 and a conference mark of 1-4.

Head coach Tim McMahon is looking forward to turning things around this season with the help of 11 returning players and five freshmen.

“We have a lot of talent on the squad this season,” said McMahon. “We had a good preseason camp and we’re excited to get the season rolling this weekend.”

Lycoming will be led by senior Heather Frantz, junior Abby Myers and sophomore Megan Schulze. Frantz, an outside hitter, ranked third in the conference in kills last season (2.77/set), while Myers led the team in assists (8.04/set) and service aces (.49/set) from her setter position. Schulze, who earned second team All-Conference honors last year, led the team and placed second in the conference in hitting percentage (.276) and blocks (1.09/set) from her middle hitter position.

Also returning for the Lady Warriors this season will be seniors Michelle Burpoe and Katherine Pazamickas, juniors Meg Bittle, Alyssa Taylor, Katie Johnson and Katie Machella and sophomores McKenna Warren and Kelly Rose.

Joining the squad this season will be freshmen Emily Abel, Veronica Clair, Melynda McGinnis, Amy Sharlow and Heather Keller.

The Lady Warriors will officially open the season on Friday night with three matches at the Mt. Aloysius tournament.

Commonwealth Conference Preseason Women’s Volleyball Poll

1. Lebanon Valley       42 points (5)

2. Messiah                 36 points (2)

3. Elizabethtown         35 points

4. Widener                 27 points

5t. Lycoming            21 points

5t. Albright                 21 points

7. Arcadia                  15 points