Milwaukee picked to win 2007 Horizon League volleyball regular season title

Aug. 14, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers have been picked to win the Horizon League regular season title in the 2007 preseason volleyball coaches' poll. The Panthers received 58 total points and five first-place votes from the League's head coaches.

Since the beginning of Horizon League volleyball in 1986, no team has ever won five-consecutive regular season titles. However, if the poll proves to be correct, that would all change this season. The University of Notre Dame (1991-1994) is the only other school to win four regular-season titles.

UWM finished the 2006 campaign with a 13-1 League record and a 24-6 overall mark. Despite last year's success, the Panthers will have to fill the void left by four seniors including Player of the Year Cheryl Hegemann. UWM looks to senior outside hitter Leanne Felsing to step into the role as a team leader. Felsing, who averaged 1.68 kills per game and 10.32 assists a year ago is poised to become UWM's first two-time All-American since 1985 after earning honorable mention honors from the American Volleyball Coaches' Association a season ago.

The Panthers also have a change at the top as long-time assistant coach Susie Johnson will take over for former head coach Kathy Litzau. During Litzau's 14-year career at UWM, she sported a resume that included a record of 271-151, nine 20 win seasons, eight regular-season titles, four League championship titles and was named Coach of the Year seven times with the most recent honor coming in 2006.

Cleveland State University finished second in the coaches' poll with 52 points and one first-place vote. The Vikings (19-9 overall, 8-6 Horizon League) enter the season with high expectations as they return five starters from last year's squad. The five starters from last season combined for 1,209 kills, 1,266 digs, 1,623 assists and 313 blocks. CSU is one of only three teams this season that will return five starters. Leading the way for the Vikings will be senior setter Mel Snyder, who led the league in assists (12.27 apg) en route to All-League honors las season.

New Horizon League member Valparaiso University (23-12, 9-3 Mid-Continent) placed third in the poll as it finished third with 50 points and two first-place votes. The Crusaders join the Horizon League after a highly-successful run in the Mid-Continent Conference, where Valpo finished in either first or second place in each of the past six years. The Crusaders return four starters to the mix this fall, including senior middle blocker Nicole Schulz. In 2006, Schulz eclipsed Valpo's single-season hitting percentage record by 23 points as she hit at a .334 clip.

The University of Illinois at Chicago was chosen fourth in the coaches' poll with 47 points and one first-place vote. The Flames (17-17, 8-6) will look to build on last season's appearance in the 2006 Horizon League Championship match against Milwaukee. Senior outside hitter Katarina Nedeljkovic, who led the conference in service aces per game (0.45), returns to the Flames' lineup after being named to the 2006 All-League team.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (14-17, 8-6) and Loyola University Chicago (14-16, 7-7) rounded out the top six as they were selected fifth (34 points) and sixth (30 points) in the coaches' poll, respectively.

The Phoenix is in search of the same success that carried Gren Bay to a second-place tie in the League's regular season standings after being chosen to finish seventh in the 2006 preseason coaches' poll. UWGB, which lost in the semifinal round against eventual champion Milwaukee, returns five starters including senior setter Betty Slinger, who was selected to the 2006 All-League team.

Loyola enters the 2007 season with the difficult task of having to replace three starters. The Ramblers also welcome six newcomers to the squad consisting of four freshman and two transfers. Loyola will look to senior Keily Zins to step up into a leadership role. Last season, Zins totaled 300 kills (2.73 kpg).

Wright State University (14-17, 8-6) was tabbed seventh with 24 points. The Raiders are coming off an impressive year in 2006, which saw them tie for second place in the League standings. WSU returns five starters including senior outside hitter Alisha Kimbro, who finished seventh in the League in blocks per game (0.33). In addition, the Raiders will play 14 matches at home in 2007. Last year WSU posted a mark of 8-4 at home.

Butler University (8-22, 3-11) and Youngstown State University (10-22, 1-13) rounded out the coaches' poll finishing with 16 and 13 points, respectively.

The Bulldogs welcome back senior outside hitter Michelle DeGeeter, who will serve as captain for Butler. DeGeeter, who is the lone senior for BU, finished second on the squad in kills (2.79), digs (2.75) and blocks (1.01). The Penguins also feature a young team as they return one senior in the form of opposite side hitter Jessica Fraley. Fraley, who was named to the 2004 Horizon League All-Newcomer team has missed most of the past two seasons because of injury.