Grizzly spikers picked to finish fifth
by Chris Day
ALAMOSA, Colo.— The Adams State College volleyball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s West Division and 10th overall, according to the league’s preseason coaches’ poll that was announced by conference officials on Monday. The Grizzlies, who are hoping to rebound from a 5-23 (4-15 RMAC) season in 2006, received 127 points in the polling of the league’s 14 head coaches.
Nebraska-Kearney received 10 of the possible first place votes and was picked to win both the East Division and the overall RMAC title. The Lopers tallied 16 points as coaches were asked to rank the teams one through 13 without voting for their own squad.
Mesa State, which advanced to the RMAC and Southwest Regional Tournament Championships was picked to win the West Division. The Mavericks received one first place vote and had 38 points total edging Fort Lewis and Western New Mexico, which tied for second in the West Division poll with 49 points a piece.
Fort Lewis, which also received one first place vote, is expected to be led by senior middle blocker Nicole Schwab, tabbed as the RMAC Preseason Player of the Year. Schwab, last year’ RMAC Player of the Year, was one of three unanimous selections on the 10-player Preseason All-RMAC team.
Metro State, which won last year’s RMAC Tournament Championship, was picked second in the East Division and third overall with 44 points while Regis and UC-Colorado Springs tied for third in the East and fifth overall with 79 points. Colorado Mines (112 points), Chadron State (154) and Colorado Christian (163) rounded out the East Division poll.
Western State was picked to finish fourth in the West Division and eighth overall with 94 points. Colorado State-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands were picked to finish behind the Grizzlies, tying for sixth in the division and 11th overall with 134 points.
Mesa State junior Ashley Loftsgard was tabbed as the RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was also picked to the Preseason All-RMAC team along with Western State junior setter Amy Thompson, selected for RMAC Preseason Setter of the Year honors.
Others named to the Preseason All-RMAC team were Brooke Akers, a senior middle blocker from UC-Colorado Springs, Eric Burson, a sophomore outside hitter from Nebraska-Kearney, Drew Choules, a senior right side hitter from Mesa State, senior outside hitters Liz Franz of Regis and Julie Green of Metro State and setters Courtney Hesier, a senior from Western New Mexico and Stephanie Levi, a sophomore of Metro State.
The Grizzlies will host a Green & White scrimmage on Saturday at 6 p.m. and will begin the season by hosting the Best Western Alamosa Inn/Grizzly Inn Volleyball Classic, which starts on Thursday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Related Item: Complete RMAC Poll
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