Young Panthers Picked Third In Horizon League
Aug. 19, 2008
MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's volleyball team has been picked to finish third in the Horizon League this season, according to a poll of the league's coaches released today. The Panthers, who have won the last five regular season league titles, are still thought of as a title contender despite losing five seniors from last year's 26-3 squad. In fact, UWM will be fielding one of the youngest teams in the country this season, with 12 freshmen and sophomores on the 16-person roster. UWM will still lean on accomplished veterans to be in position for another title in 2008. Outside hitter Becky Peters is the lone senior on the roster and will be joined by juniors Kellye Zaporski and Lauren Felsing. Sophomore middle hitters Natalie Schmitting and Maddie Sueppel each earned spots on the all-newcomer team last season, with Schmitting also claiming a spot on the all-league squad. Cleveland State, which won the league tournament title last season and returns nearly its entire roster, is the league preseason favorite. Valparaiso, which lost in the league title match a year ago, was picked second. The remainder of the predictions include UIC fourth, Butler fifth and Youngstown State sixth. Wright State was voted seventh, Loyola eighth and Green Bay ninth. UWM was last picked third in 2002, when the Panthers finished second during the regular season before winning the league tournament title to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers open the 2008 regular season Aug. 29 with a pair of matches in the Panther Invitational. Milwaukee will open tournament play against NCAA qualifier Mississippi in the afternoon before facing off with NCAA Sweet 16 participant Iowa State in the nightcap. |
