DePaul University Athletics
BIG EAST Coaches Forecast 2014 Season
8/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
NEW YORK - DePaul Volleyball, which kicks off its season next weekend, was selected to finish ninth overall in the annual BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Fresh off its first winning season since 2001, DePaul looks to continue its trend of improvement and win totals for the fifth straight year under head coach Nadia Edwards.
Creighton was dubbed as the favorite in only its second season in the BIG EAST edging out last season's champion Marquette. The Bluejays received 77 points and five first-place votes, whereas the Golden Eagles tallied 71 points and four first-place votes. Xavier acquired the only other first-place vote and were picked to finish third with 66 points. The votes were cast by the league's 10 head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The volleyball season begins on Aug. 29 with nine BIG EAST teams in action. DePaul plays host to Stony Brook at 7 p.m. that evening. The official start to BIG EAST play is slated for Sept. 23. The Blue Demons open up conference play on Sept. 26 when they travel to New York to take on St. John's. The top four teams in the regular-season standings will advance to the 2014 BIG EAST Volleyball Championship presented by New York Life Friday-Saturday, Nov. 28-29 hosted by Marquette at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee. The winner will earn the BIG EAST's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Creighton - 77 (5 first-place votes)
Marquette - 71 (4)
Xavier - 66 (1)
Butler - 58
St. John's - 50
Seton Hall - 43
Villanova - 29
Georgetown - 25
DePaul - 21
Providence - 10
BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Autumn Bailey, Marquette, So., OH
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Autumn Bailey, Marquette, So., OH*
Abbey Bessler, Xavier, So., OH*
Alex Blair, Xavier, Sr., OH*
Kelli Browning, Creighton, Sr., MB*
Lindsey Gosh, Marquette, Sr., RS*
Shelbey Manthorpe, Seton Hall, Sr., S
Leah McNary, Creighton, Sr., OH
Meghan Niemann, Marquette, So., MH*
Belle Obert, Butler, Sr., OH*
Karin Palgutova, St. John's, Jr., OH*
Aubree Smith, Xavier, Sr., S*
Erica Stahl, Butler, Sr., MB
Aleksandra Wachowicz, St. John's, Sr., OH
* - Unanimous selection
