Volleyball Picked First In Southeast Division

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – West Chester University's volleyball squad was picked to win the newly created Southeast Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in a preseason coaches' poll released Thursday morning.
 
Fresh off one of the program's most successful campaigns in history, West Chester (26-11, 13-9 PSAC) received 13 first-place votes, beating out second-place Kutztown, who received three first-place tallies, East Stroudsburg and Cheyney.
 
With the new realignment in the PSAC this fall, the conference has split into four divisions (Southeast, Southwest, Central and Northwest), instead of the two divisions it has shown in the past. The four division winners will automatically qualify for the postseason tournament, along with the next four teams based on conference record receiving at-large bids. Seeding for the postseason tournament will be based on conference record. The teams will be ranked 1-8, regardless of whether or not they won their respective division.
 
The Golden Rams finished third in the PSAC East last fall and fell to eventual conference champion, Shippensburg, in the quarterfinals of the postseason tournament. However, the team received its first NCAA Tournament bid in school history and upset PSAC East champion Pitt-Johnstown in the first round of the NCAAs. A loss to Gannon in the second round concluded West Chester's historic campaign.
 
Back from that NCAA team is all-league setter Jillian Grammer, along with four of the six starters. Head coach Kassie Bellaver enters her 11^th season on the Golden Rams' sideline as the all-time winningest volleyball mentor in school history.
 
West Chester hosts its annual Ram Fest Tournament inside Hollinger Fieldhouse on Friday and Saturday, September 2-3 to start the 2016 campaign.
 
 
SOUTHEAST

1. West Chester (13)
2. Kutztown (3)
3. East Stroudsburg
4. Cheyney

CENTRAL

1. Pitt-Johnstown (14)
2. Shippensburg (2)
3. Lock Haven
4. Millersville

NORTHWEST

1. Edinboro (11)
2. Gannon (5)
3. Mercyhurst
4. Slippery Rock

SOUTHWEST

1. Clarion (14)
2. California (Pa.) (2)
3. Seton Hill
4. Indiana (Pa.)