USA South releases fall polls; #9 Bishops picked as favorite

Fayetteville, NC - The USA South Athletic Conference has release its fall coaches polls, and North Carolina Wesleyan is pleased to announce that the Bishop men's soccer team has been tabbed the preseason favorite.  Coming off a record-setting 18-2 season and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2007, head coach Jason Kilby's squad has also gained respect nationally with a #9 ranking in the NSCAA preseason poll.  Head Coach Robin Pietryk's volleyball squad also garnered recognition in its voting as the only team other than Christopher Newport to receive a first place vote.  Final poll results placed Wesleyan fourth, while women's soccer was tabbed fifth and women's cross country eighth. 

In men's soccer, Wesleyan received 34 points and four first place votes.  NCWC was followed by Greensboro in second place with 30 points and two first place votes.  CNU finished third and collected the league' final first place nod.

Kilby's squad returns 16 players from last year's squad that went undefeated during the regular season for the second straight year.  The Bishops, in fact, will take a 42-game regular season unbeaten streak into the start of the 2008 season.  They will also look to defend their third USA South Championship in the past four years.  Heading Kilby's returners are junior All-Conference selections Robert Ivanovich and Edgar Zaldivar. Kilby will look to mesh their skills with a host of talented newcomers.

Although Wesleyan finished fourth in the volleyball voting behind CNU, Greensboro, and Averett, it should be noted that teams two, three, and four were separated by a mere five points. Behind's CNU 81, Greensboro finished with 66, Averett 63, and NCWC 61.  The Captains earned nine first-place votes and the Bishops one.

Pietryk has reason to be excited about her volleyball squad's upcoming slate.  Wesleyan turned in a 21-14 record last season, marking just the fourth 20-win season in program history.  The Bishops return five starters from that squad, including two-time All-Conference performer Brittany Insley.  Insley set a new record for kills in 2007 with 539 en route to First Team honors. She is on pace to become the career record-holder in just her third season of play.  Pietryk also returns senior captain Sydney Bens, who tallied 362 kills and 450 digs in 2007.  Pietryk's biggest task will be replacing setter Caitlin George. The program's career record-holder in assists, George will serve as Pietryk's assistant this season.

In women's soccer, the Bishops tied with Ferrum for fifth place with 44 points.  Methodist took top honors with nine first place votes and 81 points.  The Monarchs were followed by CNU in second with 73 points and one first place vote.  Greensboro and Meredith were three and four, respectively.

Second-year head coach Beverly Biancur's women turned in a 5-12 record in 2007.  Wesleyan looks to turn things around this fall as seven seniors highlight this year's roster, led by All-Conference performer Reva McCloud.  McCloud led NCWC in scoring last season with nine goals and four assists.  The Bishops also return junior Most Valuable Player Meredith Hester, who turned in nine goals and three assists last season.  Biancur looks to blend the experience of her upperclassmen with a strong freshman class that is highlighted by two international players.

In cross country, the Bishops tied with Peace for eighth place with 21 points.  CNU was tabbed first with nine first place votes and 81 points, while Shenandoah finished second with 68 points and the remaining first place nod.

Second-year head coach Dominic Modise returns three runners from last year's squad that finished eighth in the league. Leading the Bishops will likely be junior Juliana Richardson, who finished first among Wesleyan runners in every meet last season.

Men's soccer and volleyball will kick off their 2008 slates next weekend, beginning with volleyball on the 29th at Eastern Mennonite.  Men's soccer will open with its annual Fall Classic on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., followed by the women's soccer opener on September 2nd at home versus St. Andrews. Cross country will not be in action until September 13th when they travel to the Salem College Invitational.

Complete poll results for each sport are posted below.