University of North Texas Athletics
Coaches' Poll Picks North Texas Volleyball Fifth
8/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
DENTON, Texas (8/25/08) Just days away from kicking off the 2008 season, the retooled North Texas volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt West Division in the conference’s annual preseason coaches’ poll.
The Mean Green welcomes the largest incoming class since 1981 when NT’s 10 newcomers take the court against Texas Tech on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Mean Green Volleyball Classic. North Texas garnered 47 total points, just one behind fourth place Arkansas State.
“This is a season in which I feel we have incredible potential,” said North Texas head coach Cassie Headrick. “Our early team chemistry is very good and we’ve seen good things in practices daily. I think we can surprise everyone but ourselves as this season unfolds. We like the fact that no one knows anything about us right now, and we are hungry and excited to get things going.”
Monday’s 2008 preseason poll basically mirrored last season’s final standings. North Texas was picked to finish second in the 2007 preseason poll, but struggled to a 12-21 mark and a fifth place finish.
North Texas will open its season at home for the first time in the Cassie Headrick era when the Mean Green Volleyball Classic kicks off on Friday. The tournament features the Red Raiders, Jackson State and UT-Arlington. Action from the Mean Green Volleyball Center begins with UT-Arlington and Jackson State at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
2008 Sun Belt Preseason Volleyball Poll
East
1. Middle Tennessee 77 points (12 first place votes)
2. Western Kentucky 64 points (1)
3. Florida International 53 points
4. Troy 39 points
5. South Alabama 21 points
6. Florida Atlantic 19 points
West
1. Denver 87 points (10)
2. New Orleans 70 points (2)
3. UALR 66 points
4. Arkansas State 48 points (1)
5. North Texas 47 points
6. Louisiana-Lafayette 32 points
7. Louisiana-Monroe 14 points
