Aug. 17, 2005

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - For the first time since 2001, Penn State has been voted by league coaches as the preseason favorite for the upcoming Big Ten volleyball season, it was announced Wednesday by the conference office.  Minnesota, a team that has made two straight trips to the national semifinals, including last year's runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship, was tabbed second, followed by Wisconsin at the No. 3 position.  The league coaches also selected a 12-member Preseason All-Big Ten team, which is led in representation by the Nittany Lions with four student-athletes and the Golden Gophers with three.

Penn State, ranked fifth in the CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll, returns four starters from its league championship squad that finished 29-3 overall and 18-2 in the conference last season.  The Nittany Lions enter 2005 with a strong balance of veterans and newcomers.  Senior setter Sam Tortorello, a unanimous selection to last year's All-Big Ten team, was also selected by all 11 coaches this season as she earned her third-consecutive preseason honor.  Junior middle hitter Cassy Salyer earns her second-straight preseason nod, while 2004 All-Conference member Kaleena Walters and last season's Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kate Price were also named to the squad.

Minnesota, which finished 2004 as the national runner-up after a 33-5 (17-3 Big Ten) season, is led by three-time defending Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Paula Gentil.  The senior libero earns her third-consecutive preseason honor as well as her second-straight unanimous selection.  Teammate Kelly Bowman, a junior setter for the nationally-ranked No. 6 Golden Gophers, was also unanimously selected by the coaches, and joins her teammates Gentil and junior middle blocker Meredith Nelson on the preseason team.

Wisconsin, tabbed No. 10 in the national preseason poll, returns six starters from a 22-10 squad that finished fourth in the league last year with a 13-7 record.  Senior middle blocker Sheila Shaw, who was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection in 2004, was also named to this year's preseason team.  

In addition to Minnesota's Bowman and Gentil and Penn State's Tortorello, Illinois' Rachel VanMeter was selected unanimously to the preseason squad.  VanMeter, a senior outside hitter, was tabbed All-Big Ten honorable mention last season along with Purdue junior setter Renata Dargan, who earns her second-straight preseason nod.

Coming off a 30-4 season in which they tied for second in the Big Ten at 17-3, the Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked 12th nationally and fourth in the league by the coaches, posted two student-athletes on the preseason team in junior setter Marisa Main and sophomore outside hitter Ami Stevens.  In 2004, Main was honored on the All-Big Ten team, while Stevens was selected to the conference's All-Freshman team.

Big Ten volleyball gets underway Friday, August 26, when the Nittany Lions battle defending national champion Stanford in the AVCA/NACWAA College Volleyball Showcase in Omaha, Neb. Penn State will also have the opportunity to face either No. 1 Nebraska or No. 4 Hawaii the following day. Also in action on August 26, will be Illinois at intrastate foe Illinois State.

The complete 2005 Big Ten Volleyball Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Big Ten Team follows.    

2005 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL

1.  Penn State
2.  Minnesota
3.  Wisconsin
4.  Ohio State
T5.  Illinois
T5.  Purdue
7.  Michigan 
8.  Northwestern
9.  Michigan State
10.  Iowa
11.  Indiana

2005 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM

(2)  Two-time selection

(3)  Three-time selection