AMCC Volleyball Preseason Poll

2010 VOLLEYBALL
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

PENN STATE BEHREND EXPECTED
TO WIN AMCC TITLE

Two-time AMCC champion Penn State Behrend has been picked to win their third title in the 2010 AMCC coaches' poll. They will be challenged by Pitt-Bradford, ranked second, and Medaille College, who was chosen to finish third.

Pitt-Bradford senior outside hitter Jackie Podrasky (Medina, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) is the coaches' pick for Preseason Player of the Year. A first team All-AMCC selection for the past two seasons, Podrasky was ranked fourth in the conference in kills per game (3.1) last season, eighth in digs per game (3.62) and third in aces (.55).

The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, September 25, and the championship will be Saturday, November 6, hosted by the number #1 seed. The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

AMCC VOLLEYBALL POLL
2010 Preseason Rankings*

1.) Penn State Behrend (2)
2.) Pitt-Bradford (3)
3.) Medaille (5)
4.) Penn State Altoona (3)
5.) Pitt-Greensburg (6)
6.) Franciscan (9)
7.) Mount Aloysius (8)
8.) D'Youville (7)
9.) Hilbert (10)
10.) La Roche (11)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2009

Preseason Player of the Year
JACKIE PODRASKY
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Melissa Ginnitti (1st year) 2009: 4-6 AMCC, 10-18 overall
Junior L Brittany Yocius (Aliquippa, PA/Hopewell)...Played in all 103 sets last seasaon, averaging a team-high 3.89 digs and 0.35 service aces. Sophomore MB Luciana Payne (Buffalo, NY/Mount Saint Mary Academy)...Played in all 103 sets averaging 2.25 kills and team leading 0.41 blocks per set.
FRANCSICAN UNIVERSITY Head Coach Kelly Herrmann (7th year) 2009: 2-8 AMCC, 9-15 overall
Sophomore MH Anna Cain (Williamsburg, IA/Homeschool)...AMCC Newcomer of the Year last season...ranked fourth in the conference with a .245 hitting percentage. Junior L Nicole Henson (Jacksonville IL/Central Catholic)...Ranked fourth in the AMCC in digs and led all sophomores with 4.76 digs per game.
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach Amanda Logue (2nd year) 2009: 1-9 AMCC, 4-19 overall
Senior OH Carole Jones (Bliss, NY/Letchworth)...Recorded 106 kills and 21 total blocks last season..also contributed 74 digs and 21 service aces. Freshman S Shannon Memminger (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home)...Niagara Frontier Volleyball national and regional club player...Outstanding high school player who won the Coaches Award and named team MVP...two-time ECIC selection and All-Western New York player three times...four year Scholar Athlete.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach Megan Snyder (4th year) 2009: 0-10 AMCC, 2-27 overall
Senior S Veronica Sheehan (Gallitzen, PA)...No information available. Sophomore L Shelby Weber (Kennett Square, PA)...Led the Redhawks in digs with 225 (2.34 dpg).
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Jacob Beiter (3rd year) 2009: 6-4 AMCC, 19-12 overall
Sophomore OH Janine Benkelman (Eden, NY/Eden)...Third team all-conference in 2009 with 2.18 kpg...most improved player on the team. Sophomore OH Meghan Fahy (Kendall, NY/Kendall)...Second team all-AMCC last season with a .253 hitting percentage...posted 247 kills which was 7^th best in the conference...also ranked 5^th in the AMCC with 50 aces.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Coach Brianna Baker (3rd year) 2009: 3-7 AMCC, 8-20 overall
Sophomore OH Chelsea Perehinec (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle)...Led the team in kills 1.66 per game...also racked up 2.56 digs per game...voted team MVP by teammates. Freshman MH Mariah McDowell (Morrisdale, PA/West Branch)...First team all-state selection...broke the record for kills (1,001) and blocks (153) at West Branch High School.
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach Phil Peterman (3rd year) 2009: 8-2 AMCC, 17-15 overall
Senior L Jess Tirko (State College, PA/State College)...Ranked #1 in the country in digs 732 (6.54 dpg) for the second time in three years...also served 41 aces. Sophomore OH Abby VanLuvanee (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme)...As a freshmen led the team with 323 kills...also contributed 281 digs and 37 aces.
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Phil Pisano (7th year) 2009: 8-2 AMCC, 22-11 overall
Senior OH/L Danielle Woods (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin)...Led team with 454 digs and selected as team MVP while playing libero position in 2009...ranks ninth in career digs with 1,216 and ninth in service aces with 144 in her career. Sophomore OH Mary Sperry (Conneaut Lake, PA/Conneaut Lake)...Honorable mention all-conference in 2009 after starting every match as a freshman...led team with 43 aces, was second in digs (377) and was third in kills (199).
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Tina Phillips (8th year) 2009: 8-2 AMCC, 18-6 overall
Senior OH Jackie Podrasky (Medina, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary)...First team All-AMCC for the past two seasons...ranked fourth in the conference in kills per game (3.1), eighth in digs per game (3.62) and third in aces (.55). Senior S Alisha Wisel (Lewisburg, PA/Troy)...Led the Panthers in assists the past three years...ranked second on the team in aces, and fourth in digs.
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Leroy Simms (8th year) 2009: 5-5 AMCC, 7-17 overall
Junior OH Kourtney Laratonda (East Freedom, PA/Central)...Third team all-conference last season...ranked # 6 in kills per game with 2.88. Senior MB Kylynn Smith (Shippenville, PA/Clarion)...Ranked #9 in the AMCC with a .243 hitting percentage in 2009.