July 19, 2001
The University of Notre Dame volleyball team, coming off its 2000 BIG EAST regular season and championship tournament titles, has been picked to repeat those feats in 2001. By a vote from the conference coaches, the Irish have been chosen to win their third consecutive regular season title after posting a 26-7 record and 11-0 mark in conference play last season. Pittsburgh, which finished third in the league last season, is second in the poll.
Senior opposite Kristy Kreher (Birmingham, Mich.) also was selected by the conference coaches as the Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year. Kreher was a first-team all-BIG EAST selection in 2000 and has been a member of the all-regional team in 1999 and 2000. Kreher was joined on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team by teammate Marcie Bomhack (Waukesha, Wis.).
The Irish begin the 2001 season with the annual Shamrock Invitational, set for Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, at the Joyce Center. Southwest Texas, Florida Atlantic and Idaho join Notre Dame in the tournament field. BIG EAST competition will begin Sept. 22, against Syracuse and the BIG EAST Championship will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse on Nov. 17-18.
2001 BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Notre Dame, 143 pts.
2. Pittsburgh, 123 pts.
3. Rutgers, 119 pts.
4. Connecticut, 113 pts.
5. Georgetown, 104 pts.
6. St. John’s, 83 pts.
7. Syracuse, 80 pts.
8. Virginia Tech, 67 pts.
9. Boston College, 59 pts.
10. Seton Hall, 42 pts.
11. West Virginia, 38 pts.
12. Villanova, 23 pts.
13. Providence, 20 pts.
2001 Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year
Kristy Kreher, Notre Dame
2001 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Marcie Bomhack, Sr., OH, Notre Dame
Shayla Bush, So., OH, Rutgers
Wendy Hatlestad, So., RS, Pittsburgh
Anna Kleinsorge, Jr., MB, Georgetown
*Kristy Kreher, Sr., RS, Notre Dame
Yulia Vtyurina, Sr., OH, Georgetown
* – indicates unanimous selection