Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks picked fifth in preseason poll
8/23/2011 7:41:00 PM | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League's annual preseason poll, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. The Mountain Hawks garnered 56 points in the poll, which is voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
Defending league champion American was selected as the preseason favorite with 98 points and 14 first-place votes. Army placed second with 83 points and Colgate third with 73 points and two first-place votes. Bucknell was tabbed fourth - just one point ahead of Lehigh - while Navy (34 points), Holy Cross (28 points) and Lafayette (19 points) rounded out spots six through eight, respectively.
Lehigh posted a 13-13 record in 2010, including a 7-7 mark in league play; it was the first since 2003 that the team finished with a .500 or better record. The Mountain Hawks will look to ride that momentum as they return all six starters from last year's squad that didn't feature any seniors.
Leading a stellar group of returnees is 2010 First Team All-Patriot League honoree Taylor Poole, who, as a sophomore, ranked second in the league with a .328 hitting percentage and ranked ninth in the league in kills averaging 2.44 per set. Alongside Poole is a strong senior class, including Angelika Kopacz and Jessica Kudirka. Kopacz led the Mountain Hawks in total attacks last year with 878 while Kudirka led the way in assists (627).
Lehigh will be led by first-year head coach Bob Bertucci, who has manned the sideline for 32 years, including the last 16 seasons as the head coach at Temple.
Lehigh is preparing for its season opener set for Wednesday, August 31th at Rider at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks play their first nine matches on the road before returning for their home opener on Friday, September 16th against Saint Francis (Pa.) as part of the Lehigh/Lafayette Invitational.
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Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll
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Team (# of first place votes)
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Points
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1
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American (14)
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98
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2
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Army
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83
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3
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Colgate (2)
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73
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4
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Bucknell
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57
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5
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LEHIGH
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56
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6
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Navy
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34
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7
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Holy Cross
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28
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8
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Lafayette
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19
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Volleyball vs. Holy Cross
Saturday, November 08
VB vs. Loyola
Friday, October 10
Volleyball vs. American
Saturday, October 04
Mountain Hawk Talk - S2 EP2 - Volleyball
Friday, September 26
