Cornell picked second in IIAC Volleyball Poll

Cornell is picked second with two first-place votes in the Iowa Conference Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll released Thursday. The Rams received 65 total points, only six behind Wartburg.

Head coach Jeff Meeker's Rams return four starters from a 17-17 squad that took runner-up in the IIAC regular season with a 6-2 mark and fell a couple points shy of reaching the IIAC Tournament Final. The 2010 team well exceeded its sixth-place projection in last year's preseason poll.

The Rams are led by outside hitter Kathleen O'Connor, the 2010 IIAC Freshman of the Year. The team brings back three returning senior starters in hitters Samantha Pedersen and Kirtley Hitt and libero Kayla Gaines. Cornell should also get a boost from a talented incoming group of 10 first-year players.

Wartburg grabbed the top spot in the poll with seven first-place votes. The Knights won the 2010 IIAC Tournament title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship with no seniors on the roster.

Defending IIAC regular-season champion Loras is tabbed third with 59 points. Central comes in fourth with 48 points, followed by Simpson (42), Coe (38), Luther (30), Dubuque (23) and Buena Vista (20).

Cornell gets its season underway Sept. 3 at the Augustana Tournament in Rock Island, Ill. The Rams are scheduled to play Aurora, Greenville and Knox on opening weekend. The home opener is Sept. 5 against Grinnell.