UF Volleyball Picked to Win the South

2015 GLIAC Volleyball Preseason Poll

The University of Findlay volleyball team was picked to repeat as Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division champions in 2015 as the league office unveiled their annual preseason coaches poll on Aug. 13.

The Oilers received 44 points in the poll to put them in a tie with Ashland for the top spot in the South Division. Findlay received three first place votes compared to only two by Ashland however to make them the favorite in the South Division.

Ferris State was tabbed as the favorite to win the North Division with 47 points while Grand Valley State finished right behind them with 44 points.

The Oilers went 23-7 last season and advanced to the semifinals of the GLIAC Tournament. They will be led by a pair of returning All-Americans in junior outside hitter Hannah Tong and sophomore middle blocker Nickyla Garverick.

Tong is back after being named the 2014 GLIAC Attacker of the Year. She led the Oilers with 390 kills and averaged 3.55 kills per set. The Carey, Ohio native was also a first team all-conference and all-region player for Findlay last season.

Garverick returns after being named the 2014 GLIAC Blocker of the Year. The talented middle also picked up GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors after recording 266 kills and a team-high 135 blocks for the Oilers. The Crestline, Ohio native earned first team all-conference and all-region honors for Findlay in 2014.

Senior right side hitter Andrea Roach is also back in the fold after earning honorable mention all-conference honors in 2014. Roach earned her accolade by accumulating 198 kills.

Senior middle blocker Julie Lyons and senior Becca Shoemaker, a defensive specialist, return for their final seasons as well. Lyons finished second on the team last year with 87 total blocks while Shoemaker paced the defense with 423 digs.