CLEMSON, SC – The 2012 Clemson Volleyball team was picked to finish third by the league’s 12 coaches on Friday. Clemson and Florida State also tied for the league lead with three preseason All-ACC selections. Clemson’s trio of Sandra Adeleye, Alexa Rand, and Serenat Yaz were tabbed by the league’s coaches, as all three were named to the All-ACC team last season.
The Tigers open play in the 2012 regular season on August 24 at 7:00 pm against Coastal Carolina as part of the Big Orange Bash in Jervey Gymnasium. The Tigers will also hold a scrimmage tonight (Friday) at 5:00 pm in Jervey. Clemson returns all of their starters from a season ago, in which they went 20-11 and 12-8 in ACC play, finishing alone in fifth place. The third-place pick was Clemson’s highest predicted finish since the 2008 season, in which Clemson finished 23-10 overall and 14-6 in the ACC, while advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Clemson was picked to finish fourth in 2007, the season in which the Tigers went 29-4 and 21-1 in the ACC, winning the league title. Florida State was picked as the preseason favorite to win the league, accumulating 118 of a possible 121 points, including nine first-place votes from the coaches. First-place votes were awarded 11 points, second place received 10 points, etc. Coaches were not allowed to include their own team in their predicted order of finish.North Carolina picked up 111 points and the remaining three first-place votes. Clemson (97) and Duke (92) rounded out the top four teams. Miami (81), Georgia Tech (66), Virginia Tech (63) and NC State (56). Virginia (36), Maryland (34), Wake Forest (25), and Boston College (13) completed the predicted order.
Predicted Order of Finish:
Team
Points
2011 Record (ACC)
Florida State (9)
118
28-7 (18-2)
North Carolina (3)
111
24-9 (15-5)
Clemson
97
20-11 (12-8)
Duke
92
21-9 (15-5)
Miami
81
26-5 (16-4)
Georgia Tech
66
15-16 (8-12)
Virginia Tech
63
18-13 (11-9)
NC State
56
20-13 (8-12)
Virginia
36
10-20 (4-16)
Maryland
34
10-22 (4-16)
Wake Forest
25
9-12 (6-14)
Boston College
13
7-24 (3-17)
Preseason All-ACC Team:
Player
Class
Position
Team
Senior
Middle Blocker
Clemson
Senior
Middle Hitter
Clemson
Senior
Outside Hitter/Right Side
Clemson
Ali McCurdy
Junior
Libero/Defensive Specialist
Duke
Christiana Gray
Senior
Middle Blocker
Duke
Ashley Neff
Junior
Middle Blocker
Florida State
Katie Mosher
Sophomore
Libero/Defensive Specialist
Florida State
Sareea Freeman
Senior
Middle Blocker
Florida State
Bailey Hunter
Senior
Outside Hitter
Georgia Tech
Monique Mead
Senior
Right Side
Georgia Tech
Alex Johnson
Junior
Right Side
Miami
Emani Sims
Sophomore
Middle Blocker
Miami
Megan Cyr
Senior
Setter
NC State
Chaniel Nelson
Sophomore
Opposite Hitter
North Carolina
Emily McGee
Senior
Outside Hitter
North Carolina
Jessica O’Shoney
Senior
Middle
Virginia
Cara Baarendse
Senior
Middle Blocker
Virginia Tech
Andrea Beck
Senior
Middle Blocker
Wake Forest