Aug. 26, 2008
2008 Patriot League Volleyball Webguide
Center Valley, Pa. - American was selected number one in the 2008 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll, which is voted on by the League's eight volleyball head coaches and eight volleyball sports information directors. Coaches and SIDs can not vote for their own team. The Eagles gained the top spot in the poll with 97 points and 13 first-place votes. Army was the only other team to garner first-place votes with three and came in second in the poll with 87 points. Colgate and Navy came in third and fourth in the poll with 72 and 55 points, respectively. Rounding out this year's preseason poll were in order Bucknell (46 points), Lafayette (41) and Lehigh (35) and Holy Cross (15).
American has been crowned the Patriot League Tournament champion each year since joining the Patriot League in 2001, totaling seven championship titles. Head Coach Barry Goldberg has racked up a 96-2 mark in League games, including five perfect League seasons. Senior Rubena Sukaj will lead the Eagles after earning her second-straight AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and Patriot League Player of the Year award in 2007. Sukaj led the League in kills (5.49) and aces (0.66) and currently ranks second on the League's career chart in kills (1,603) and is fourth in aces (238). Also back in action for the Eagles is All-League performer Ivana Cebakova who was named the 2007 Patriot League Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Cebakova averaged 3.61 digs per game last year. Overall, American will return five starters and a libero for the 2008 campaign.
Army placed second in the poll after racking up a 24-5 overall and 12-2 League record in 2007 under the direction of first-year Head Coach Alma Kovaci. The Black Knights have won three Patriot League titles (1991, 92 and 94) and have appeared in the Patriot League Tournament 15 times, including the last nine years. The Black Knights welcome back the 2007 Patriot League Setter of the Year junior Maureen Bannon who paced the League in assists with 11.99 per game. All three of Army's All-Patriot League honorees from a year ago will return to the court this year including Bannon (second team) and a pair of first teamers - seniors Rachael Breinling and Jamie Clark. Breinling ranked in the top 10 in the League last season in hitting percentage (.304), kills (3.46) and blocks (0.97). Clark ranked first in the Patriot League in hitting percentage (.366). Clark's .356 career hitting percentage ranks second in Patriot League history.
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Under the direction of Head Coach Ryan Baker in his second year, Colgate qualified for the Patriot League Tournament in 2007 for the first time since 2000. The Raiders came out as tournament runner-up and posted the most overall wins with a 17-13 mark (11-3 League) since 1999. The Raiders earned three major award in 2007 in senior Jackie Adlam (Patriot League Co-Defensive Player of the Year), sophomore Casey Ritt (Patriot League Rookie of the Year) and Baker (Patriot League Coach of the Year). Both Adlam and Ritt earned Second-Team All-Patriot League status. Adlam's 4.63 digs per game last year were tops in the League and she is just 14 digs shy of becoming the Patriot League's all-time leader, currently with 1,597 in her career. Ritt led all freshmen in blocks with 0.84 per game and had 13 double-digit kill games in 2007. Colgate will also return its First-Team All-Patriot League selection Katrina Zawojski. Zawojski ranked among Patriot League leaders in kills per game (3.89) and hitting percentage (.285). The Raiders have been crowned League champion four times (1990, 95, 96 and 99).
Navy posted a 21-12 overall record and an 8-6 mark in League play last season as it qualified for the Patriot League Tournament for the 12th time. Last year was the third time in the last four years that Head Coach Mike Schwob's squad has entered League Tournament play. The Mids will have four starters back from last season as its searches for its first-ever Patriot League Championship title. Navy lost its only All-Patriot League player from a season ago in Rachel Dougherty who was a first-team selection. The Mids will look to senior Jessie Sims as the team's top returning kills leader with 3.31 per game in 2007. Sims also averaged 2.87 digs per game. Marissa Watson will be back for her senior campaign. Watson averaged a team-high 10.99 assist per game.
Bucknell also lost its one All-Patriot League student-athlete from a year ago - Jenna Henderson. The Bison have won two Patriot League titles (1999 and 2000) and have appeared in more Patriot League Tournaments than any other team at 16 times. Head Coach Cindy Opalski will welcome back four starters and a libero from the 2007 squad. Sophomore Heidi Kamp will be Bucknell's top returning kills leader (2.38/game), while senior Sheena Czipri led the Bison in digs (2.97) a year ago. Senior setter Shannon Pitsch will also be in action after averaging 10.95 assists per game in 2007.
Head Coach Terri Dadio Campbell and the Lafayette squad will be seeking their first-ever Patriot League Championship title as the Leopards return six starters. The Leopards had one All-Patriot League selection last year in Michaela Donohue, who graduated in the spring. Katrina Racibarskas will return for her sophomore year as Lafayette's kills leader from 2007 averaging 2.97. Classmate Kayly Elmer was second on the team in kills with 2.93 per game. Junior Kari Horn will also be on the court after averaging 4.10 digs per game.
Lehigh Head Coach Jenny Maurer returns five starters and a libero to the 2008 lineup. The Mountain Hawks have two Patriot League Championship titles under their belt (1993 and 97) but will look to return to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2003. Lehigh's All-Patriot League performer from 2007 - Shannon Spafford - graduated. The Mountain Hawks will return its digs leader from last season in sophomore Dannielle Pimental (2.62) as well as junior Brittany Thurston, who averaged 2.61 digs per game. Junior Mo McReynolds will be the Brown and White's top retuning kills leader (2.12).
Holy Cross will be under the direction a new head coach this season with Marritt Cafarchia taking over the reigns. Eight starters return for the Crusaders, who are still looking for their first Patriot League Tournament title. Holy Cross lost Christine Strawson to graduation after earning Second-Team All-Patriot League plaudits in 2007. Junior Liz Auger returns after posting 2.86 kills per game for second on the team last year, while Holy Cross' dig leader, senior Molly Anderson, will also be back to captain the team. Anderson averaged 3.72 digs per game to rank fourth in the League.
The 2008 season will begin the weekend of Aug. 29-31 with seven of the eight Patriot League teams seeing action. The Patriot League portion of the season will kick off on Friday, Sept. 26. The 2008 Patriot League Volleyball Championship will take place Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-22 at the site of the highest seed.
For more information on Patriot League volleyball refer to the 2008 Patriot League Volleyball Webguide.
2008 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll
| Rank | Team | Points (First-Place Votes) | 2007 Overall Record | 2007 League Record |
| 1. | American | 97 (13) | 26-8 | 13-1 |
| 2. | Army | 87 (3) | 24-5 | 12-2 |
| 3. | Colgate | 72 | 17-13 | 11-3 |
| 4. | Navy | 55 | 21-12 | 8-6 |
| 5. | Bucknell | 46 | 12-17 | 5-9 |
| 6. | Lafayette | 41 | 14-18 | 4-10 |
| 7. | Lehigh | 35 | 5-22 | 2-12 |
| 8. | Holy Cross | 15 | 4-24 | 1-13 |
