Aug. 18, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Georgia Tech senior outside hitter Chrissy DeMichelis has been named to the 2009 Preseason All-ACC volleyball team, announced today in voting conducted by the league’s coaches. The Yellow Jackets, who finished sixth in the ACC last year, were picked eighth in the preseason coach’s poll which was also released today.
DeMichelis missed the first seven matches in 2008 with an injury, but returned to post double figures in kills 13 times. She tallied 10 or more kills in each of the last eight matches of the season and significantly raised her career hitting percentage by hitting .300 or better in seven matches on the season. DeMichelis ranked second on the team with 3.17 kills per set and third with 263 kills on the season. In addition, she had a string of four-consecutive matches with 18 or more kills late in the season. She needs just 241 kills to eclipse 1,000 for her career and will begin the 2009 campaign ninth in school history with 3.12 kills per set in her career.
The Yellow Jackets, under first-year head coach Tonya Johnson, open the 2009 season by hosting the Georgia Tech Regency Suites Invitational, August 28-29 at O’Keefe Gym. Tech will play Georgia on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. and then face Austin Peay (12:30 p.m.) and Mercer (7 p.m.) on Saturday, Aug. 29. Seven letterwinners return from the 2008 squad that finished 20-10, while six newcomers appear on the 2009 roster.
Duke was picked first as it takes in 116 of a possible 121 points, including seven of 12 first place votes. Coaches’ votes for the predicted order of finish were tallied with 11 points being applied to a first-place vote, 10 points for a second-place vote, etc. Coaches were not permitted to predict their own team’s order of finish.
Just 17 points separate the top-four teams as Florida State, Miami, and North Carolina also take in first-place votes. Florida State follows Duke in second place with 104 points and three first-place votes, while Miami is tabbed to finish in third with 101 points and one first-place vote. North Carolina lands in fourth with 99 points and one first-place vote.
Clemson is tabbed fifth with 75 points, and is followed by Virginia Tech (71), Virginia (62), Georgia Tech (49), Wake Forest (47), Maryland (33), NC State (21), and Boston College (14).
