Stefine “Jake” Pease Voted Preseason Player of the Year
Lipscomb Draws Top Preseason Honors
Credit: Atlantic Sun
MACON, Ga. – Lipscomb, the defending Atlantic Sun Conference champions, will enter the fall as the overwhelming favorite to win its third conference crown in the past four seasons, the conference office announced on Thursday. The Lady Bisons received ten first-place votes from the league coaches in the preseason poll, while senior setter Stefine “Jake” Pease earned Preseason Player of the Year honors.
Buoyed a perfect 20-0 conference record, Lipscomb cruised to a 28-4 mark and claimed the conference tournament title by defeating host school FGCU in the final. Pease ranked tenth in the country after averaging nearly 12 assists as a junior last season. She added 284 digs and 104 kills on her way to Tournament MVP and First Team All-Atlantic Sun honors.
Credit: Atlantic Sun
A pair of Pease’s Lipscomb teammates, Meghan Hinemeyer and Alex Kelly, joins the setter on the preseason squad. Hinemeyer, a senior outside hitter, totaled 353 kills, 257 digs and 27 service aces last season, while Kelly, last season’s Player of the Year and unanimous selection to the preseason team, led the conference in kills per set and points per set.
FGCU took the second spot in the poll after finishing as the conference tournament runner-up in 2009. Jelena Simic, a senior outside hitter, joined Kelly as a unanimous selection to the team alongside teammate Holly Youngquist, a junior libero.
The Bruins of Belmont came in third in the poll with junior outside hitter Maggie Johnson earning a nod to the preseason All-Atlantic Sun team. Johnson led Belmont in kills last season with 452 at just over 3.4 per set. The 2009 regular season runner-ups, Jacksonville garnered fourth place and picked up the other first place vote, while Kennesaw State, who finished fifth last season stayed put in the poll.
Campbell placed sixth in the poll with senior outside hitter Emily Werner making the preseason list. Her 326 kills led the Camels last season, while her 22 service aces were second on the team. ETSU and Mercer follow Campbell, landing in seventh and eighth, respectively.
UNF’s Paige Pridgeon represents the Ospreys on the preseason All-Atlantic Sun team. The senior outside hitter topped her team in service aces and was second in kills and digs last season. As a team, the Ospreys took the ninth spot in the poll with USC Upstate and Stetson finishing out the poll.
The 2010 season begins on Friday, August 27th with all eleven teams in action. FGCU serves as the host of the 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, which will take place from November 18-20 at Alico Arena.
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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
| 2010 Volleyball Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team | ||
| Pos. | Name (Class) | School |
| OH | Meghan Hinemeyer (Sr.) | Lipscomb |
| OH | Maggie Johnson (Jr.) | Belmont |
| MB | * Alex Kelly (Sr.) | Lipscomb |
| S | Stefine “Jake” Pease (Sr.) | Lipscomb |
| OH | Paige Pridgeon (Sr.) | UNF |
| OH | * Jelena Simic (Sr.) | FGCU |
| OH | Emily Werner (Sr.) | Campbell |
| L | Holly Youngquist (Jr.) | FGCU |
| * – Unanimous Selection | ||
| Preseason Player of the Year: Stefine “Jake” Pease, S, Lipscomb | ||
| 2010 Atlantic Sun Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll | ||
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Votes |
| 1. | Lipscomb (10) | 120 |
| 2. | FGCU | 103 |
| 3. | Belmont | 97 |
| 4. | Jacksonville (1) | 90 |
| 5. | Kennesaw State | 67 |
| 6. | Campbell | 60 |
| 7. | ETSU | 59 |
| 8. | Mercer | 49 |
| 9. | UNF | 47 |
| 10. | USC Upstate | 22 |
| 11. | Stetson | 12 |
| Tournament Champion: Lipscomb (Ten Votes) | ||
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Patrick McCoy
Director of Sports Information
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Atlantic Sun Conference
3370 Vineville Avenue, Suite 108-B
Macon, Georgia 31204-0790
voice 478/474-3394
fax 478/474-4272
www.atlanticsun.org