Preseason Conference Polls

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The climb to the top of the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is getting closer for the women's volleyball team as they were picked fourth in a preseason poll released by the NAIA on Monday. DU finished in a tie for third last season while breaking the school record for wins with 22. Third year head coach Megan Lenhart and her Lady Panthers will start the 2012 campaign next week in Indiana with a match against IU-South Bend on Wednesday, August 22.

The volleyball program has seen a rise over the past two seasons under head coach Megan Lenhart (formerly Garner) and the expectations continue to grow as they were picked to finish fourth in the conference in 2012.  Perrenial WHAC power Madonna University is favored to win the title and last year's regular season runner-up Cornerstone was picked to finish second.  Just ahead of Davenport is the three-time defending regular season champion Indiana Tech.

"The preseason poll is a good tool for motivation no matter where you rank, said Lenhart.  For us to be in the fourth spot with the company of the perennial favorites in our league says a lot about how our program has developed the last couple of years.  We know that we can play with all the teams in our league and are excited to win our program's first conference championship."

Davenport, which started its program in 2006, has seen a steady climb over the past few seasons under Lenhart with a fifth place finish in 2010 and a third place finish last season. DU will have to turn to a very young lineup that features only one senior and one junior but Lenhart believes there is much optimism surrounding the team. "The amount of work we have already put in during this preseason is going to pay huge dividends for our young team.  We see our youth as a great advantage and plan to use the energy and enthusiasm to learn to our advantage."

The regular season is slated to begin on Wednesday, August 22 as DU starts a "6-matches in four days" road trip at Indiana University at South Bend.  The team follows with a match the next night at Illinois Tech in downtown Chicago. "Ball control is the key to success for any team so we have focused on that a lot in the first week and a half, added Lenhart.  Combined with tenacious defense we will be in a good spot to start the season in a strong fashion."

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