College Volleyball News – Guilford Picked Eighth in Preseason ODAC Poll

FOREST, Va. – Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) volleyball coaches ranked Guilford College eighth in the 2013 preseason poll released Thursday. Defending conference champions Washington and Lee claimed the top spot with seven first-place votes. Randolph-Macon earned two first-place votes for a total of 109 points, garnering second place. Lynchburg College rounded off the top three with three first-place votes and 96 points.

Eighth-year head coach Emily Gann returns 10 players from the 2012 season, including senior setter Taylor Whitley. Whitley led the Quakers last year with 614 assists and earned Third Team All-Conference ODAC honors. Classmate Malikah French, a middle blocker, is another veteran who had 204 kills, 46 blocks and led the team with 3.2 points per set. Another key returnee is junior outside hitter Brittany DeCesare, who stood third on the team in kills (183), blocks (20), and points per set (2.6). Returning Rookie of the Year, Kelsey Ruehling, led Guilford with 235 kills and stood second with 2.9 points per set.

Guilford went 9-18 (3-8 ODAC) last year. The Quakers open their regular season Aug. 31 at the Averett University Cougar Classic in Danville, Va. Guilford takes on Methodist University at 2:15 p.m. before meeting the host Cougars at 6:30 p.m. The Quakers open their home schedule Sept. 13th against Lynchburg in the Ragan-Brown Field House at 6:00 p.m.