 AIKEN, SC--The
USC Aiken Lady Pacers are picked to finish fourth in the Peach Belt Conference
in 2003 according to a poll of the league’s eight head coaches.
North Florida, the six-time defending conference champion, is the preseason
favorite for the third-straight year.
UNF, ranked 20th in the AVCA preseason top 25 poll, garnered all seven possible
first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team) and accumulated
49 total points. Armstrong Atlantic State was a solid second picking up one first-place
vote and totaling 42 points. The Lady Pirates shocked the Lady Ospreys 3-0 in
last year’s PBC Tournament Finals held in Aiken, SC.
The tightest balloting was for that of third place. USC Spartanburg received
two second, two third, and three fourth place votes for a total of 34 points,
edging USC Aiken by one point. The Lady Pacers appeared second on one ballot,
third on four ballots, fourth on one, and fifth on one.
USCA, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Will Condon, returns three
of six starters and six of 11 letterwinners off the 2002 team that posted a 14-18
record (6-8 PBC) and finished fourth in the conference.
All-Conference performer and Co-Freshman of the Year Amy Long will lead the Lady
Pacers. In 2002, Long posted a team-high 375 kills, 299 digs, and 84 blocks.
Sophomore setter Rachel Dalitz is also a returning starter. Last season, she
tallied 1,286 assists, 258 digs, and 65 service aces. Junior outside hitter Jenny
Lloyd is the final returning starter. Lloyd still posted good numbers in 2002
despite missing over 17 games due to injury. She recorded 251 kills, 95 blocks,
247 digs, and 47 aces.
Five freshmen and one junior make up the six newcomers for USCA in 2003.
USC Aiken opens the season on August 29-30 in St. Petersburg, FL in the Eckerd/Holiday
Inn Sunspree Classic.
2003 Peach Belt Conference
Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. North Florida (7)...............................49
2. Armstrong Atlantic State (1)............42
3. USC Spartanburg.............................34
4. USC Aiken.....................................33
5. Francis Marion.................................23
6. UNC Pembroke.................................19
7. Augusta State..................................13
8. Lander..............................................11
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