Armstrong Atlantic State Tabbed Volleyball Preseason Favorite

AUGUSTA, GA -- The Armstrong Atlantic State volleyball squad has been voted the preseason favorite in a poll of the league’s head coaches released today. The Pirates received five of a possible seven first-place votes to finish with 46, ahead of PBC newcomer Flagler College, who was second with 39. Francis Marion was third in the voting while another new PBC member, the University of Montevallo, was fourth. Coaches were not allowed to rank their own teams.

Armstrong Atlantic State is coming off a historic 2008 season that saw them win the PBC regular season and tournament Championships. The Pirates went on to claim the NCAA Southeast Regional title and became the first PBC team ever to reach the NCAA Elite Eight. For 2009, AASU returns five of seven starters including PBC Tournament Most Valuable Player Torrie Bevolo and All-Region libero Casey Howett. Overall, 10 of the 12 letterwinners from last season’s 28-7 team will return for 2009.

Flagler begins their first season of Peach Belt competition after playing as a Division II independent. The Saints were 20-16 last season and return five of six starters. Leading the returning starters will be senior outside hitter Justine Burkhardt, who became Flagler’s career leader in kills last year and has been named the Independent Collegiate Athletic Association’s Player of the Year twice. Also returning is junior middle blocker Meg Weathersby who was named All-IACC in 2008.

Francis Marion finished in a tie for second in the PBC standings in 2008, reached the final of the PBC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Regional. To reach or surpass those achievements in 2009, the Patriots will have to make up for the loss of All-Conference players Jessica Lombardi and Jenna Kaiser. However, the young Patriots do return front-line powers Ashlyn Underhill, Amanda Mitchell and Ashlee Crook, all of whom had over 200 kills last season as freshmen.

With the addition of Flagler and Montevallo to the conference, PBC volleyball will undergo a facelift as the two are the first new teams to join since 1998. The PBC has not had eight volleyball teams since 2004. The 2009 volleyball season begins on Aug. 28 with conference play beginning Sept. 16 and continue on to the PBC Tournament which will be held Nov. 13-15 at the USC Aiken Convocation Center in Aiken, S.C.