Aug. 27, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Kentucky volleyball team was tapped to finish third overall in the Southeastern Conference in a preseason vote by the league’s 11 coaches announced Tuesday.

The eighth-ranked Florida Gators were selected to win their 18th consecutive conference championship by the league’s coaches. Florida received seven votes, while the LSU Tigers earned three, and the Wildcats snagged one in league champion voting.

The Gators were voted to win the Eastern Division with 11 total points, followed by Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. After recording their first 20-win season since 1993, the Wildcats also received a first-place vote for the division title and are picked to finish second with 18 points.

LSU was unanimously predicted to win the West by receiving all 10 first-place votes.

Points were compiled on a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Western Division and 1-2-3-4-5 for the Eastern Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for his or her own team and each coach also voted for one team as an overall conference champion.

The Wildcats begin their 2008 campaign Friday when they host the Kentucky Classic. Pittsburgh will be the Blue and White’s first opponent when they take to the court at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.

Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for complete coverage of the Kentucky volleyball team.

Preseason Coaches’ Poll

(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)

SEC Champion: Florida (7), LSU (3), Kentucky (1)

Eastern Division

Florida (9)11
Kentucky (1) 18

Tennessee 33
Georgia 38
South Carolina 40

Western Division

LSU (10) 10
Ole Miss 21
Alabama 27
Arkansas 41
Auburn 44
Mississippi St. 52