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Aug. 6, 2004
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Virginia volleyball team has been selected to finish eighth in the Atlantic Coast Conference according to the 2004 Preseason ACC Volleyball Poll, which is determined by a vote of the league’s 11 head coaches. In addition, fourth-year middle Alexis Geocaris (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) has been named to the 14-member Preseason All-ACC Volleyball Team.
The Cavaliers, who are under the direction of 10th-year head coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton, received 49 points in the poll for eighth place. Georgia Tech, which advanced to the Regional Finals of the 2003 NCAA Championship, edged Maryland for first place in the preseason poll. The Yellow Jackets garnered seven first-place votes and a total of 116 points. Maryland, which won the 2003 ACC Tournament, received four first-place votes and 112 points. North Carolina is third in the poll with 93 points, while Wake Forest is predicted to finish fourth (78 points). Clemson and Florida State are tied for fifth with 68 points and ACC newcomer Miami is seventh with 58 points. Virginia is eighth (49 points), followed by Duke (48 points), newcomer Virginia Tech (21 points) and N.C. State (15 points).
Geocaris, a three-year starter, led Virginia in hitting percentage (.322) and total blocks (151) in 2003, both of which are career-high marks. Her 151 total blocks tied for the sixth highest single season total in school history. She also established another career best with 331 kills and tallied 69 digs and 23 service aces. In 2003, Geocaris was a second-team VaSID All-State Volleyball selection. She was named the MVP of the National Invitational Tournament and was chosen to the Kentucky Conference Challenge All-Tournament Team as well.
The Cavaliers, who finished the 2003 season with a 25-9 overall record and an 8-8 mark in the ACC, return four starters and eight letterwinners in 2004. Virginia opens its 2004 season on Wednesday, September 1 when it hosts in-state rival William & Mary at Memorial Gym. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free of charge.
The entire 2004 Preseason ACC Volleyball Poll follows:
2004 ACC VOLLEYBALL PRRESEASON POLL
School Points 2003 Record1. Georgia Tech 116 34-42. Maryland 112 27-83. North Carolina 93 20-124. Wake Forest 78 21-105. Clemson 68 18-165. Florida State 68 16-177. Miami 58 22-98. Virginia 49 25-99. Duke 48 10-1910. Virginia Tech 21 13-1411. N.C. State 15 7-25