GREENSBORO, N.C. – Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) volleyball coaches ranked Guilford College seventh in the 2012 preseason poll released Wednesday. Three-time ODAC champion Randolph-Macon College, received eight first-place votes to secure the top spot. Washington and Lee University earned three first-place votes for a total of 113 points, garnering second place. Lynchburg College rounded off the top three with the final first-place vote and 101 points.
Seventh-year head coach Emily Gann returns nine players from the 2011 season, including junior setter Taylor Whitley (China Grove, N.C./Jesse C. Carson). Whitley led the Quakers last year with 814 assists, which ranks fifth in school history, and averaged 8.39 helpers per set. Classmate Malikah French (Durham, N.C./School of the Arts), a middle blocker, is another veteran who had 170 kills, 59 blocks and stood third on the team with 2.6 points per set. Another key returnee is sophomore outside hitter Brittany DeCesare (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y./Croton Harmon), who was named Guilford’s Rookie of the Year last season and totaled 124 kills.
The Quakers open their regular season Sept. 1 at the Averett University Cougar Classic in Danville, Va. Guilford takes on William Peace College at 1:00 p.m. before meeting the host Cougars at 5:00 p.m. Guilford opens its home schedule Sept. 5 against Ferrum College in the Ragan-Brown Field House at 7:00 p.m.
2012 ODAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First-Place Votes
1. Randolph-Macon (8) 118 pts. 2. Washington and Lee (3) 113 pts. 3. Lynchburg (1) 101 pts. 4. Virginia Wesleyan 86 pts. 5. Bridgewater 83 pts. 6. Emory & Henry 64 pts. 7. Guilford 62 pts. 8. Shenandoah 40 pts. 9. Randolph 38 pts. 9. Roanoke 38 pts. 11. Hollins 37 pts. 12. Eastern Mennonite 12 pts.