8/16 - NWC POLL: Bruins Picked 6th in Pre-Season Conference Volleyball Poll
2007 NWC Volleyball Coaches' Pre-Season Poll
NEWBERG, Ore. - With 12 letterwinners expected back, including four returning starters, the George Fox University Bruins have hopes of finishing higher than the sixth place finish predicted for them in the 2007 Northwest Conference women's volleyball race by the league's nine coaches in pre-season balloting.
The Bruins lost two key players in outside hitter Karina Philliber, who was an honorable mention All-NWC honoree, and starting middle blocker Holly Hutchinson, who ranked sixth in the league in blocks (0.92). The team will be anchored, however, by Second Team All-NWC middle Elizabeth Anderson, who led the league in blocks (1.22) and was seventh in hitting pct. (.248) while averaging 2.67 kills per game. Also back are outside hitters Whitney Kolb (2.85 kills per game) and Jennifer Panico (1.64 kills, 2.61 digs per game), and setter Amy (Knight) Batchelder (9.94 assists, 2.86 digs per game).
The Bruins are coming off a 10-17 season in which they went 6-10 in conference play and tied for fifth in the standings. The team is again led by veteran coach Steve Grant, who has compiled a 517-331 record in 25 years at George Fox. He ranks ninth among active NCAA Division III coaches in total wins.
Pacific Lutheran University and Linfield College, who were conference co-champions in 2006, top the 2007 poll. PLU totaled 75 points to 73 for Linfield, but the Wildcats had four first-place votes to three for the Lutes.
PLU, which finished 22-3 overall and 14-2 in the NWC last fall, will be led by All-Conference setter Gina DiMaggio, but also must overcome the graduation of 2006 NWC Player of the Year Katie McGinn. Megan Kosel and Stacie Matz also return for the Lutes. Linfield finished 20-7 last season and graduated both of its all-conference players, but honorable mention honorees Katelyn Baker and Hannah Veley return for the Wildcats.
The University of Puget Sound picked up one first-place vote and 67 points in the poll to come in right behind the leaders. The Loggers welcome back All-NWC hitter Rachel Gross and All-NWC middle Monica Groves.
Whitman College is fourth in the poll with 52 points, and also picked up the final first-place vote. The Missionaries graduated all-conference honoree Kate Borsato, but return all-league middle Rosa Brey.
Whitworth University is four points behind Whitman with 48 points. Second Team All-NWC libero Cassie Moore is back for the Pirates. George Fox (38 points) follows Whitworth. Pacific University (27 points) is eighth in the poll and will be led by all-around star Anela Iseke, a setter and hitter.
Lewis & Clark College (21 points) and Willamette University (14 points) are eighth and ninth in the poll respectively. All-NWC middle Sara Kettler returns for the Pioneers, while Mary Butler returns for the Bearcats.
The season begins for George Fox Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in the Willamette Tournament in Salem. The Bruins will play Eastern Oregon University Friday at 6 p.m., the University of California-Santa Cruz Saturday at 11:30 a.m., and host Willamette Saturday at 6 p.m. The first home game for the Bruins is Sept. 21 when they host Pacific Lutheran in a conference match.