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GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team was selected to finish sixth this season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as predicted by the league’s coaches and announced Tuesday afternoon by commissioner John Swofford. Duke, the defending conference champion, was awarded the top preseason spot after receiving nine first-place votes.

The coaches also voted on the Preseason All-ACC squad and junior Cara Baarendse and senior Justine Record were selected to the 18-player roster. Duke led all 10 teams represented on the team with four honorees.

The Hokies concluded last season with their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance and lost just two starters during the offseason. Baarendse and Record highlight the returning experience for Tech as Baarendse led the squad and was second in the ACC in kills (385) and hitting percentage (.376), and Record paced the conference with 46 service aces, good for 0.38 per set.

Eleven of the 12 teams will begin the season this weekend, including the Hokies. Tech will host its first of three tournaments this year and kick the season off against High Point on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

2011 Predicted Order of Finish (as selected by the league’s coaches)

Team (First-Place Votes) Points 2010 Overall Record (ACC Record)

Duke (9) 117 27-7 (16-4)

Florida State (3) 110 22-11 (12-8)

North Carolina 98 25-10 (15-5)

Miami 96 23-9 (13-7)

Georgia Tech 73 18-14 (11-9)

Virginia Tech 72 20-12 (10-10)

Clemson 64 18-13 (9-11)

Maryland 47 19-13 (10-10)

Virginia 45 14-16 (8-12)

Wake Forest 36 19-12 (11-9)

NC State 22 14-18 (4-16)

Boston College 12 9-24 (1-19)

2011 Preseason All-ACC Team (as selected by the league’s coaches)

Name School Year Position

Kellie Catanach Duke Senior S

Sophia Dunworth Duke Senior MB/OH

Amanda Robertson Duke Senior MB

Ali McCurdy Duke Soph. DS/L

Sanda Adeleye Clemson Junior MH

Visnja Djurdjevic Florida State Senior OH

Rachel Morgan Florida State Senior OH

Bailey Hunter Georgia Tech Senior OH

Monique Mead Georgia Tech Junior RH

Lane Carico Miami Senior OH

Katie Gallagher Miami RS Senior S

Remy McBain Maryland Junior S

Emily McGee North Carolina Junior OH

Kaylie Gibson North Carolina Senior L

Simone Asque Virginia Senior OH

Cara Baarendse Virginia Tech Junior MB

Justine Record Virginia Tech Senior OH

Andrea Beck Wake Forest Junior MB/RS

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).