June 27, 2001
The Georgia Tech volleyball team has been tabbed as the favorite to win the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference championship, as determined by a vote of the league’s nine head coaches. The Jackets collected 80 points out of a possible 81, earning them the status as preseason favorite.
“We are pleased to be the pre-season favorite this year,” said head coach Shelton Collier, who returns for his 10th year at the helm of the Jackets. “As we continue to establish ourselves as a top program, both within the ACC and across the country, it is very important to us that other coaches have a high opinion of our team. It means a lot to us to be thought of as the frontrunner.”
Georgia Tech returns five starters from last year’s 25-8 squad that finished tied for first in the ACC regular season and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Among the returning five are seniors Maja Pachale and Kyleen Bell, who were first-team all-ACC selections last season, as well as second-team all-ACC selection Eida Mabry and sophomore Kele Eveland who is coming off her first season in which she was tabbed as the ACC Rookie of the Year.
“We have a solid team returning with some excellent incoming freshmen, so our players have some very high expectations,” said Collier. “Our five returning starters all had a successful spring season and have made some great strides individually and as a group. We hope to get off to a great start in September and carry that momentum all the way through the season.”
Defending ACC Champion North Carolina was selected to finish second, followed by Duke, who was picked third. Wake Forest and Florida State finished in a tie for fourth. Virginia, Clemson, Maryland and NC State round out the poll.
Georgia Tech begins its season Friday, Aug. 31, against Texas Tech in the Utah Classic. Matches with Utah and Rhode Island are scheduled on Sept. 1 in the final day of the tournament.
2001 Pre-Season ACC Volleyball PollSchool Points1. Georgia Tech 802. North Carolina 673. Duke 544. Florida State 51 Wake Forest 516. Virginia 377. Clemson 318. Maryland 219. NC State 13
