Aug. 23, 2002

LANCASTER, PA - The Johns Hopkins volleyball team was picked to finish third in the Centennial Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference announced Thursday.

The Blue Jays, coming off a 16-15 season and a third straight appearance in the ECAC Tournament, received 75 total points to finish two points ahead of Franklin & Marshall. Defending conference champion Gettysburg topped the poll with 95 points and received seven of 11 first-place votes. Muhlenberg was picked second with two first-place votes and 88 points, while Haverford rounded out the top five with 68 points and the final two first-place votes.

McDaniel (63 points), Dickinson (48), Ursinus (33), Swarthmore (26), Bryn Mawr (18), and Washington (18) completed the poll.

JHU returns eight players from last season, led by senior middle hitter Elisabeth Breese (Geneva, NY/Geneva) and sophomore setter Betsy Baydala (Rockville Centre, NY/South Side). Breese led the team in blocks (104) last year and was second in kills (348). Baydala set JHU single-season records for aces (88) and hitting percentage (.399), while also leading the team in assists (894). Senior setter Courtney Cromwell (Westbury, NY/Carle Place), who ranks second at Hopkins with 2,117 career assists, also returns after missing most of the 2001 season due to injury.

Hopkins opens its season Saturday, August 31 at the Franklin & Marshall Tournament in Lancaster, PA.

2002 Centennial Preseason Volleyball Poll
1. Gettysburg (7), 95
2. Muhlenberg (2), 88
3. Johns Hopkins, 75
4. Franklin & Marshall, 73
5. Haverford (2), 68
6. McDaniel, 63
7. Dickinson, 48
8. Ursinus, 33
9. Swarthmore, 26
10. Bryn Mawr, 18
11. Washington, 18