The Frostburg State University is likely to win its third straight title, say the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference coaches. The Bobcats garnered a sweep of the first place voting, followed by Penn State Behrend in second place, while Penn St. Altoona is picked to finish third.
Frostburg State outside hitter Brooke Winterling (Glenelg,
MD/Glenelg) is the coaches' pick for Preseason Player of the Year
for the second year in a row. The AMCC Player of the Year in
2008, Winterling led the Bobcats to the team title. She is a
three-time first team all-conference selection and was the
conference Newcomer of the Year in 2006.
This season the conference welcomes D'Youville College to its
ranks; the Spartans were previously members of the North Eastern
Athletic Conference. The AMCC kicks off conference play on
Saturday, September 19, and the championship will be Saturday,
November 7, hosted by the number #1 seed. The winner will
receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
AMCC VOLLEYBALL POLL
2009 Preseason Rankings*
1.) Frostburg State (2)
2.) Penn State Behrend (1)
3.) Penn State Altoona (5)
4.) Pitt-Greensburg (3)
5.) Pitt-Bradford (4)
6.) Mount Aloysius (6)
7.) D'Youville (N/A)
8.) Medaille (9)
9.) La Roche (6)
10.) Franciscan (8)
11.) Hilbert (9)
* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in
2008
The Behrend Lions also had two players named to the AMCC Players to Watch List. Senior middle hitter Sheila Ogden (Grove City, PA/Grove City), a First Team All-AMCC in 2008, registered a team high 308 kills to go with 71 blocks and 54 digs last season. Ogden was selected to the all-tournament team at the Behrend Invitational and is currently fifth all-time at Behrend in hitting percentage and eighth in career kills.
Senior setter Brooke Gallentine (Mt. Pleasant, PA/Southmoreland) was a First team All-AMCC member in 2008. She was also voted as the program's MVP and was named to the all-tournament team at Thomas More Invitational. Gallentine's 2008 numbers were impressive as she tallied 1,062 assists, 309 digs, and 38 aces. She is currently second at Behrend in career assists.
The blue and white finished the 2008 season with a sharp 25-9 record and the program's first ever ECAC South Tournament Title.
