Aug. 19, 2008

2008 Summit League Preseason Poll

Elmhurst, IL - The IPFW women's volleyball team was picked second in the Summit League in the coaches' poll. IPFW received 55 points, and one first-place vote.

The Mastodons edged out North Dakota State, who had 54 points and two first-place votes, and Western Illinois, who had 38 total points. The 2008 league favorite as voted on by the coaches was Oral Roberts, who picked up 62 points and the remaining six first-place votes. South Dakota State (36 points), IUPUI (30), Oakland (26), UMKC (14) and Centenary (9) rounded out the nine teams in the poll.

IPFW returns five starters from a season ago, including junior Rebekah Roehm, who was named to the league's First Team as a middle hitter; senior Jessica Miller, a second team All-Summit League honoree in 2007; along with Taryn Parker and Mayara Schlindwein, who were each named to the All-Freshman team last season.

Overall IPFW returns nine letterwinners, and the top three kill leaders from last season: Miller, Roehm and Schlindwein. Setter Jessica Dominiak also returns to the starting lineup, along with her experienced backup Shannon Reuter. Parker returns after starting 27 matches a season ago in the middle, and will be aided by senior Kylee Hervey and freshman Allison Hook. Miller and Schlindwein will have additional depth at outside hitter provided by sophomore Stephanie Lamberti and freshman Ashley Dillon. Senior Christine Simon and junior Jamie Schwartz also return as defensive specialists, and look to fill the shoes left by the program's career leader in digs, Peachy Jankowski.

The `Dons open their season on Friday, August 29 when they travel to compete in the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational, where they will face off against the tournament host in the opening game of the year starting at 7:00 PM.