38 F
Clarksville
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeSportsLady Govs picked second in OVC preseason Volleyball Poll

Lady Govs picked second in OVC preseason Volleyball Poll

APSU Sports: Women’s Volleyball
Nikki Doyle Named Preseason All-OVC

Austin Peay State University Lady GovsBrentwood, TN – Austin Peay State University junior outside hitter Nikki Doyle was named to the Ohio Valley Conference’s preseason team while the Lady Govs were picked to finish second in the league’s preseason poll, the conference office released Wednesday.

Lady Govs Volleyball. (Courtesy: Keith Dorris/Dorris Photography)
Lady Govs Volleyball. (Courtesy: Keith Dorris/Dorris Photography)

Doyle returns following a sophomore campaign that saw her named the league tournament’s “Most Valuable Player” after earning All-OVC and OVC All-Newcomer team recognition. She will be the OVC’s top returning hitter after averaging 3.47 kills per set in 2010 and ranking third among league hitters in the category. Doyle’s 427 total kills led the league last season.

“Nikki proved what kind of talent she has and what she is capable of last year,” said Lady Govs first-year head coach Bill Egbert. “Her challenge this season will be to improve her game knowing teams won’t overlook her and will try to stop her. I believe she will rise to the challenge and look forward to seeing what she will do this season.”

Nikki DoyleAustin Peay was picked to finish second in the league’s preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors. The Lady Govs received five of 22 first-place votes and finished with 172 points. Morehead State – the 2010 regular-season champion – received 13 first-place votes for 192 points and had three players named to the league’s preseason squad.

“We have a strong core of players returning from last season,” said Egbert. “We also have newcomers joining the team that will be asked immediately to make a difference. It will take a lot of hard work to continue the success this team has enjoyed recently. The league slate will be challenging and everyone will play their best when we enter the gym.”

Also receiving first-place votes were Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech. The Gamecocks were picked to finish third with three first-place votes and 141 points. The Golden Eagles secured the remaining first-place nod and were picked fourth with 130 points.

Austin Peay volleyball players return to campus in 11 days with preseason practice slated to begin August 8th. The Lady Govs begin their 2011 campaign in 30 days with an August 26th contest against Southeastern Conference foe Alabama in the first of three games at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash.

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles