CNU Volleyball Picked As Preseason Volleyball Favorite

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Christopher Newport University, under the direction of Head Coach Lindsay Birch in her tenth year, was picked in the preseason coaches' poll to win the USA South Athletic Conference volleyball title in 2011. The Captains have captured at least a share of seven consecutive regular season crowns. CNU has also won eight of the past ten USA South Tournament championships, including the last four titles. Last season, the Captains advanced to the National Quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

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.

N.C. Wesleyan College, last season's Conference Tournament Runners-Up, placed second in the poll with 65 points while Averett University finished third with 64 points and the final first place vote. Greensboro College and Methodist University rounded out the top-half of the poll with 59 and 56 points, respectively.

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