Buckley, Jennings Selected to All-ACC Preseason Team

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia field hockey players Elly Buckley (Scarborough Perth, Australia) and Rachel Jennings (Macungie, Pa.) have been selected to the All-ACC Preseason Team, released Tuesday by the conference office. Additionally, the Cavaliers were picked to finish third in the conference standings.

Buckley, a sophomore, was a NFHCA third team All-American in 2010 after contributing 19 goals and a team-best 11 assists. She was a first team all-south region member in addition to being an All-ACC selection as a rookie.

Jennings, a senior, is serving her second year as a team captain. A defensive midfielder, Jennings joined Buckley on the all-region first team a year ago and was also selected to the 2010 NCAA All-Tournament Team.

National runner-up North Carolina was picked by a vote of the league’s head coaches to win the ACC this season. The 2010 national champion Maryland Terrapins were picked second.

Also released Tuesday was the first NFHCA/Kookaburra coaches poll, where the Cavaliers debut at No. 3 behind Maryland and North Carolina, respectively.

Virginia opens the 2011 campaign at 5 p.m. Friday at home against VCU. Admission to all field hockey games is free.

2011 Predicted Order of Finish (as selected by the league’s coaches)

Team (First Place Votes) Points 2010 Record (ACC) 1. North Carolina (4) 24 22-3 (4-1) 2. Maryland (2) 22 23-1 (5-0) T3. VIRGINIA 14 18-4 (3-2) T3. Duke 12 8-11 (0-5) 5. Wake Forest 12 10-10 (1-4) 6. Boston College 6 12-7 (2-3)

2011 Preseason All-ACC Team (as selected by the league’s coaches)

Player, Class Position School Maike de Jager, Sr. M Boston College Stefanie Fee, Sr. B Duke Samantha Nelson, Sr.
GK Duke Megan Frazer, Jr. M Maryland Jill Witmer, So. F Maryland Harriet Tibble, Jr. B Maryland Katelyn Flagowski, Sr. M North Carolina Caitlin Van Sickle, Jr. B North Carolina Kelsey Kolojejchick, Jr. M North Carolina Rachel Jennings, Sr. M VIRGINIA Elly Buckley, So. F VIRGINIA