Aug. 26, 2003

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

The Blue Jays, coming off a 20-21 season and a third place finish in the Centennial Conference with an 8-2 record, received 79 total points to finish three points ahead of Muhlenberg. The Mules garnered 76 points and received one first place vote. Two-time defending conference champion Gettysburg topped the poll with 98 points and received eight of 11 first-place votes, while Franklin & Marshall was picked second with one first-place vote and 88 points. Haverford placed third with 79 points and the final first-place vote.

McDaniel (58 points), Ursinus (48), Dickinson (33), Swarthmore (28), Washington (26), and Bryn Mawr (18) completed the poll.

The Blue Jays return three Honorable Mention All-Centennial selections in junior outside hitter Stephanie Kaliades (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood), sophomore setter Betsy Baydala (Rockville Centre, NY/South Side) and middle blocker Samantha Raggi (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill). Kaliades led the team in kills (451) and aces (62), while Baydala led Hopkins in assists with 799 and was second in aces with 54. Raggi finished with 218 kills and was also a factor on defense chipping in with 32 solo blocks and 27 assisted blocks.

Hopkins opens its season Friday, August 29 when the Blue Jays host Goucher College at 7 p.m.

2003 Centennial Preseason Volleyball Poll
 1.	Gettysburg (8)			98
2.	Muhlenberg (1)			81
3.	Haverford (1)			78
4.	Johns Hopkins			76
5.	Muhlenberg (1)			70
6.	McDaniel 				58
7.	Ursinus					38
8.	Dickinson				33
9.	Swarthmore				28
10.	Washington				26
11.	Bryn Mawr				18