Aug. 19, 2008
Chicago, Ill. - The UIC volleyball team has been picked to finish fourth in the 2008 Horizon League Coaches Preseason Poll released on Tuesday morning.
The Flames received a total of 38 points.
Cleveland State, the 2007 reigning tournament champion, was picked to repeat with 64 points and eight out of nine first-place votes.
Valparaiso, the 2007 tournament runner-up, earned a second-place nod with 56 points and received the final first-place vote in the poll.
Milwaukee was pegged for third with 50 points.
Rounding out the poll is Butler in fifth (31), followed by Youngstown State (27), Wright State (24), Loyola (20) and Green Bay (14).
UIC returns two-time All-Horizon League senior Katarina Nedeljkovic and 2007 team-leading blockers Lana Lobdell and Epiphany Davis.
The Flames also return Katerina Hanackova who averaged a team-best 3.11 kills and ranked second on the team with 2.94 digs per game.
Following a stellar freshman campaign, sophomore Taylor Szatkowski returns to the court after leading the squad with 3.45 digs per game.
In addition to the veterans, four newcomers are expected to make an immediate impact for the Flames. UIC welcomes freshmen Janise Dismuke, Kate Eldred and Erin Tofanelli, as well as transfer redshirt sophomore Jessica Dalke.
The Flames kick off the 2008 season at the Chicagoland Challenge at Loyola on Aug. 29 and 30, where they will face rivals Northwestern, DePaul and the host Ramblers. UIC opens tournament action on Friday, Aug. 29 against Northwestern at 4:30 p.m. CST.
2008 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
1. Cleveland State (64 points/eight first-place votes)
2. Valparaiso (56 points/one first-place votes)
3. Milwaukee (50 points)
4. UIC (38 points)
5. Butler (31 points)
6. Youngstown State (27 points)
7. Wright State (24 points)
8. Loyola (20 points)
9. Green Bay (14 points)
Note: Only head coaches for each of the nine universities vote and each coach is prohibited from voting for their own institution.
