Christopher Newport Picked As USA South Preseason Volleyball Favorite

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Christopher Newport University, under the direction of Head Coach Lindsay Birch in her ninth-year, was picked in the preseason coaches' poll to win the USA South Athletic Conference volleyball title in 2010. The Captains have captured at least a share of six consecutive regular season crowns. CNU has also won seven of the past nine USA South Tournament championships, including the last three titles.

Christopher Newport received nine of the ten first place votes (81 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Averett University placed second in the poll with 69 points and the final first place vote while N.C. Wesleyan College, last year's USA South Tournament runner-up, finished in third with 64 points. Methodist University and Meredith College rounded out the top-half of the poll with 56 and 44 points, respectively.

The volleyball regular season gets underway on Wednesday, September 1 as six of the league's ten schools are in action.