July 23, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Saint Louis and Temple have been selected to win division titles in voting conducted by the league's head coaches as the Atlantic 10 volleyball preseason poll was released today. Temple was tabbed to seize its fourth consecutive East Division crown, while the Billikens were selected to capture their second West Division title in three seasons.

Temple compiled a mark of 9-4 in Conference play last season and 16-20 overall. The Owls downed Fordham, 3-1, in the opening round of the 2007 A-10 Volleyball Championship before dropping a 3-1 decision to eventual champion Dayton in the semifinals. Temple is anchored by junior outside hitter Yun Yi Zhang, who led the league in kills (584) a year ago en route to being named to the All-Conference second-team.

Fordham is picked second in the East Division, followed by George Washington, Charlotte and La Salle.

Saint Louis advanced to the semifinals of the 2007 A-10 Championship and concluded the year with a 10-3 ledger in league action and 23-7 overall record, its second consecutive 20-win campaign. The Billikens are led by the junior tandem of Whitney Roth and Sammi McCloud, both of whom garnered first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors last season. Roth was named the 2007 A-10 Setter of the Year after leading the Conference in assists (13.25 apg.), while McCloud ranked in the top 10 of the league in both kills (3.70 pg.) and assists (4.15 apg.).

Defending champion Dayton was selected second in the West Division, followed by Xavier, Rhode Island and Duquesne.

The six-team A-10 Volleyball Championship will be held Nov. 21-23 at the brand new Chaifetz Arena on the campus of Saint Louis University.

2008 Predicted Order Of Finish (2007 A-10/Overall record in parentheses)
East Division
1. Temple (9-4/16-20)
2. Fordham (5-8/15-20)
3. George Washington (5-8/13-17)
4. Charlotte (5-8/15-13)
5. La Salle (1-12/10-23)
West Division
1. Saint Louis (10-3/23-7)
2. Dayton (12-1/33-2)
3. Xavier (11-2/24-11)
4. Rhode Island (5-8/13-15)
5. Duquesne (2-11/10-19)