Aug. 4, 2008

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University has been selected to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division according to the 2008 Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. University of Indianapolis and Rockhurst University have been selected as the favorites to win the East and West Divisions, respectively.

Lewis came up just short of the top spot in the East, earning three first place votes and 31 total points. Indianapolis earned four first place votes and 33 points. Lewis finished second to Indianapolis during the 2007 regular season, but defeated the Greyhounds in the GLVC Championship match and NCAA Tournament.

Rockhurst was a unanimous pick to claim the West Division in a poll of the league's 13 head coaches. The GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll is voted on by the league's 13 head coaches. Each coach selects their predicted order of finish in their division and is not allowed to vote for their own team.

The GLVC will enter its second consecutive season of divisional play in 2008. Each team will play foes within their division twice during the season and teams in the other division once. The top three teams from each division and two wild-card teams will advance to the GLVC Championship Tournament.

In 2007 Lewis won their second straight GLVC Championship, advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 and finished with a No. 11 national ranking. Head coach Lorelee Smith guided the Flyers to a 32-4 record, setting team records in shutouts (22), winning percentage (.889) digs (2,561) and assists (1,923) along the way.

Smith has a talented returning squad led by junior outside hitter Stephanie Sagat, junior middle hitter Kim Richards and sophomore libero Ashlee Lindish. All three earned All-GLVC honors last season.

The Flyers open the 2008 season against Shippensburg in San Bernadino, Calif. on Aug. 29. Lewis' first home match is Sept. 5 at 2:30 p.m. against Michigan Tech.

The complete 2008 GLVC Volleyball Coaches' Poll follows:

West Division

Team (First-place votes) Total Points

1. Rockhurst (5) 25

2. Southern Indiana (1) 21

3. Missouri-St. Louis 14

Quincy 14

5. Drury 11

6. Missouri S&T 5

East Division

Team (First-place votes) Total Points

1. Indianapolis (4) 33

2. Lewis (3) 31

3. Northern Kentucky 29

4. Bellarmine 18

5. Saint Joseph's 15

UW-Parkside 15

7. Kentucky Wesleyan 6