Greenville Volleyball Chosen to Repeat in 2011

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) coaches have chosen Greenville College's volleyball squad as the top team in 2011. The Panthers received a total of 70 points and six first place votes in the pre-season coaches' poll.

Greenville won a share of the regular season title last season and went on to capture their first SLIAC Tournament Championship. Panthers head coach Tom Ackerman returns a bevy of talented players, including senior setter Janell Crow, who finished the 2010 season ranked 29th in NCAA Division III in assists per set (10.24) and was named to the SLIAC All-Tournament Team. Also returning for Greenville is junior, outside hitter Ansley Devrieze, who was also the 2010 SLIAC Tournament MVP. Devrieze finished last season with 1.63 kills per set, 2.15 digs per set, 20 total service aces and 23 total blocks.

Other top returning players for the Panthers include sophomore Corinne Coon and junior Tricia Gall. Coon, an outside hitter, was the 2010 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year and earned Second Team All-SLIAC honors. She averaged 2.49 kills per set, while also recording a total of 24 service aces and 41 blocks. Gall, a middle blocker, was also named Second Team All-SLIAC last season and averaged 1.82 kills per set and led her squad with a total of 87 blocks.

Spalding University ranked second in the 2011 pre-season coaches poll with a total of 64 points and two first place votes. The Golden Eagles shared the regular season title last year but were not eligible for the SLIAC Tournament. Head coach Bridget Yates has strong senior leadership returning in Alex Marquardt, Allison Dietzman and Kirsten Snyder. Marquardt, a middle hitter, earned 2010 First Team All-SLIAC honors and led her squad with a .339 attack percentage on the season. She also averaged 2.83 kills per set and had a total of 78 blocks. Dietzman, another middle hitter, posted 2.06 kills per set, 1.17 digs per set, 23 total service aces, 29 total blocks and a .312 attack percentage. Snyder, a setter, averaged 9.28 assists per set, 1.54 digs per set and recorded a total of 42 service aces and 25 blocks.

Other teams that could battle for the conference title in 2011 include Webster University and Westminster College (Mo.), who were ranked in third and fourth in the coaches poll respectively. Westminster also received one first place vote.

2011 SLIAC Volleyball
Pre-Season Coaches' Poll
1 - Greenville (6)
2 - Spalding (2)
3 - Webster
4 - Westminster (1)
5 - Eureka
6 - Fontbonne
7 - Principia
8 - MacMurray
9 - Blackburn