VCU VOLLEYBALL TOPS CAA PRESEASON POLL
8-10-06

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University volleyball team claimed the top spot in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll, as voted by the league’s 10 head coaches.

The Rams captured their initial CAA title a season ago under first-year coach James Finley. VCU received seven first-place votes and 79 total points, nine points ahead of Hofstra, which won the CAA regular-season title last season. Towson received one first-place vote and was third in the poll with 65 points.

VCU returns six starters from last season’s 22-12 squad, which made the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Rams recorded 16 more wins in 2005 than in 2004, the second-largest turnaround in Division I.

The Rams will be led by senior outside hitter Ludmila Francescatto (Fraiburga, Brazil), who was first team All-CAA last fall and MVP of the CAA Tournament. Also returning are sophomore outside hitter Ana Luiza Bernardes de Borja (Florianopolis, Brazil) and senior middle blocker Melissa Peterson (Ganado, Ariz.).

VCU opens the 2006 season on August 25 and 26 at the Duke Invitational in Durham, N.C.

2006 CAA VOLLEYBALL PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL

1. VCU (7 first-place votes)79
2. Hofstra (2 first-place votes)70
3. Towson (1 first-place vote) 65
4. James Madison                 50
5. Delaware                        44
6. Georgia State                  38
7. Northeastern                   37
8. William & Mary                34
9. George Mason                 23
10. UNC Wilmington             10