2012 SLIAC Volleyball Poll Released
ST. LOUIS - Fontbonne University and MacMurray College tied for seventh in the 2012 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) women's volleyball poll. Fontbonne returns two seniors and three juniors to this year's squad. Seniors returning are Honorable Mention All-Conference player Ana Hibbeler (opposite side) and Olivia Thurmond (defensive specialist). Hibbeler led the team in attacking percentage last season and Thurmond led the team in digs (366) service aces (38) and assists (160). Returning juniors include Tabitha Bennight, Abbie Bergtholdt, and Cassie Dougherty. Bergtholdt was an offensive leader last year with a team high 168 kills and 33 solo blocks. Dougherty recorded triple digit assists for the Griffins while teammate Bennight was second on the team with triple digit kills as well. Junior transfer Taryn Ballman also looks to be a solid addition to the team.
The battle for the 2012 volleyball title promises to be a tight race according to the voting among the league coaches in the preseason poll. Webster University took the top spot in the poll with 61 total points and five first place votes. Last season's preseason favorite, Greenville College, was close behind in second place with 57 points and three first place votes. Spalding closed out the top number three slot. This will be Spalding's first year to be eligible for SLIAC postseason play after finishing third during last year's provisional year.
2012 SLIAC Volleyball
Pre-Season Coaches' Poll
1 - Webster (5)
2 - Greenville (3)
3 - Spalding
4 - Principia
5 - Westminster
6 - Eureka
7 - Fontbonne
MacMurray
9 - Blackburn