WINTER PARK, Fla. – The 19th-ranked Eckerd College volleyball program has been selected to finish third in the Sunshine State Conference standings after the annual preseason poll was unveiled by the league today.
Voting for the preseason poll is tabulated through a combined vote between the SSC head coaches and sports information directors.
The Tritons are heading into the fall ranked 19th in the nation according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and are coming off a 27-5 overall record after advancing into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Eckerd was picked to finish behind No. 2 University of Tampa and No. 22 Rollins College, one year removed from a runner-up placing in the regular-season SSC standings with a 13-3 league mark.
The Tritons went 1-2 against Tampa last season, including the program's first-ever victory against the Spartans, and fashioned a 2-1 record against the Tars from Rollins.
EC will begin the new season on the road at a Rollins-hosted tournament in Winter Park on Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
The Tritons are scheduled to face Minnesota State University-Moorhead and Chestnut Hill (Pa.) College on Friday afternoon before taking on California State University and Kentucky State University on Saturday.
Live stats and video is projected to be available for all matches and links will be posted at a later time.
2012 SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
Rank - Team, Points (1st Place Votes)
1 - Tampa, 192 (16)
2 - Rollins, 164 (2)
3 - Eckerd, 148
4 - Florida Southern, 134
5 - Saint Leo, 91
6 - Lynn, 88
7 - Barry, 67
8 - Nova Southeastern, 64
9 - Florida Tech, 24
