Aug. 16, 2007

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is just over a week away from opening the 2007 volleyball season. They will start that season with a target on their backs as they were picked third in the preseason poll voted on by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Head Volleyball Coaches and Sports Information Directors.

The prediction as one of the league's top three teams comes form last season's third place finish when the Hawks, predicted to be ninth, surprised the field and posted a 19-15 overall mark and 7-3 in conference under former coach Alex Temkin. The change in leadership didn't sway the voters, as new skipper Don Metil knows the conference, spending the last two years at rival Coppin State and inheriting a talented squad that returns four starters.

"I think this prediction is based a lot on last year's finish," said Metil. "I believe a lot of our program's can be better or worse than predicted and I certainly hope in our case we can finish higher."

Florida A & M University (FAMU) was again picked as the MEAC's top team, having dominated in recent years, they will compete for their seventh consecutive title and tenth overall. The Lady Rattler have a 91 match winning streak in place against MEAC opponents and in turn, received 21 of 22 first place votes.

That lone other vote went to Morgan State who is predicted second in the league. The Lady Bears posted a 9-1 MEAC mark and recorded 408 votes, 52 behind FAMU.

UMES, who opens at home in a non-conference match against Coppin State on Friday, August 24, posted 334 points.

Delaware State (294) and North Carolina A & T (278) rounded out the top five while Howard (248), Bethune-Cookman (230), South Carolina State (168), Coppin State (112), Hampton (80) and Norfolk State (50) rounded out the 11 MEAC schools.