Volleyball Tops Preseason Big Ten Poll – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
July 31, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s volleyball squad has been voted as the preseason favorite to win the 2002 Big Ten Conference Championship by the conference coaches. The Buckeyes, who finished second at 17-3 last season, finished ahead of 2001 conference champion Wisconsin in the preseason poll. Ohio State, ranked 10th nationally in the Volleyball Magazine preseason poll, begins preseason camp Aug. 9 in preparation for its opening match against second ranked Hawaii, Aug. 30 in the 15th annual Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic.
Gordon, Stiling and Virtue named to preseason All-Big Ten Team
By a vote of the Big Ten Coaches, Ohio State student-athletes Stacey Gordon (So., Oshawa, Ontario), Suzie Stiling (Sr., Glenview, Ill.) and Katie Virtue (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) have been named to the 13-player 2002 Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Gordon, an outside hitter, was an All-Big Ten selection as a freshman and was the Big Ten and American Volleyball Coaches Association Freshman of the Year. She also was named a second team AVCA All-American. Stiling has been honored as an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection the last two seasons. Virtue, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, was a Volleyball Magazine honorable mention All-American selection last year. The Buckeyes, with three student-athletes on the team, lead the preseason team. Michigan State, Minnesota and Penn State placed two players each to the squad.
2002 Big Ten Preseason Poll
1. Ohio State 2. Wisconsin 3. Michigan State 4. Penn State 5. Illinois 6. Minnesota 7. Michigan 8. Northwestern 9. Indiana 10. Iowa (tie) Purdue (tie)
2002 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Student-athlete School Class Position Hometown Lisa Argabright Illinois Sr. Middle Blocker Louisville, Ky. Erin Moore Michigan Jr. Middle Blocker Tiffin, Ohio Nikki Colson Michigan State Jr. Setter Lincoln, Neb. Angela Morley Michigan State Sr. Middle Blocker Holland, Mich. Cassie Busse Minnesota Jr. Opposite Prior Lake, Minn. Bethany Brafford Minnesota Jr. Middle Blocker Mansfield, Ohio Erika Lange (2) Northwestern Jr. Middle Blocker Orland Park, Ill. Stacey Gordon Ohio State So. Outside Hitter Oshawa, Ontario Suzie Stiling (2) Ohio State Sr. Middle Blocker Glenview, Ill. Katie Virtue (3) Ohio State Sr. Setter St. Charles, Ill. Mishka Levy (3) Penn State Sr. Outside Hitter Houston, Texas Cara Smith Penn State Jr. Middle/Outside Hitter Lafayette, Ind. Erin Byrd Wisconsin Sr. Outside Hitter Glen Ellyn, Ill.
(2) Two-time selection (3) Three-time selection
