Auburn Volleyball Picked Fourth in SEC West - AuburnTigers.com - Auburn University Official Athletic Site

Auburn Volleyball Picked Fourth in SEC West SEC Preseason Poll

Junior outside hitter <b>Sarah Bullock</b>

Junior outside hitter Sarah Bullock

Aug. 15, 2011

AUBURN - The Auburn volleyball team was selected to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference Western Division as the SEC released its preseason coaches' poll Monday.

The Tigers, who finished third in the West last season, came in just behind Arkansas in the preseason balloting with 34 points to the Razorbacks' 31.

Auburn returns four starters and 12 letterwinners from the 2010 squad that earned the program's first NCAA Tournament berth in 25 years of intercollegiate volleyball. The 2010 Tigers finished 21-13 overall, 11-9 in SEC play; both win totals were the best by an Auburn team in more than a decade.

LSU was picked to win the West for the fourth consecutive season, selected unanimously with 10 points. Ole Miss was picked second with 22 points. Alabama and Mississippi State were picked fifth and sixth, respectively.

For the 17th time in the last 18 years, Florida was picked to win the SEC title with nine of 11 first-place votes. The defending champion Gators were also picked to win the East with 12 points. Tennessee earned the remaining two votes for the overall league title and was picked to finish second in the Eastern Division with 19 points. Kentucky (26), Georgia (39) and South Carolina (44) round out the ballot in the East.

Points were compiled on a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Western Division and a 1-2-3-4-5 basis for the Eastern Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The Tigers open the 2011 season on Friday, Aug. 26, as they face North Carolina in the Active Ankle Challenge in Gainesville, Fla. Auburn's home opener is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, against Alabama A&M in the Student Activities Center.

2011 SEC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)

SEC Champion: Florida (9), Tennessee (2)

Eastern Division