PBC Fall Champions

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Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Fall 2011 Peach Belt Conference Champions!

PBC Rewind – September 9, 2011

Check out our first ever PBC Rewind, recapping recent events in the Peach Belt Conference!

 

Fall Sports Preview

With the opening games of the Fall season just a day away I figured now would be a great time to recap the PBC preseason coaches polls and All-Conference teams for our five Fall sports. Check out all of the releases, and good luck to all our student-athletes preparing to kick off their seasons!

-Carl

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Columbus State Favored to Win PBC Men’s Cross Country Title

The Columbus State men’s cross country team has been selected as the preseason favorite as a poll of the league’s head coaches was released on Wednesday. In one of the closest results ever, the Cougars edged out UNC Pembroke by the narrowest of margins with just one point separating the two. CSU received four first-place votes and had a 57-point total while UNCP also got four first-place votes and finished with 56 total points. Clayton State was third in the voting with Augusta State fourth and Georgia College fifth. Montevallo, Flagler, Armstrong Atlantic State and Francis Marion rounded out the voting.

Columbus State won their fifth consecutive PBC Championship in 2010 and advanced to the NCAA National Championships for the third straight season. For 2011, the Cougars will have to replace their top three runners as All-American Meshack Koyiaki, Nicholas Kering and David Marley all graduated last year. Leading the pack of returners is junior Stephen Bowers who finished seventh at the PBC Championships and junior Andy Henderson who was 15th at the PBC.

UNC Pembroke continues their upward trend, having improved their spot in the PBC Championships in each of the last three years including a second-place finish in 2010. The Braves have the most experienced returning team in the league with their top four runners back in the fold including junior Pardon Ndhlovu. Ndhlovu finished third at the PBC Championships a year ago and earned an individual spot to run in the NCAA National Championships. Sophomore Chris Schroll also returns after finishing fifth at the PBC with seniors Kevin Clancy and Zach Bayless also returning.

Clayton State has finished in the top three at the PBC Championships for four straight years and look to break through for their first title since 2005 this year. The Lakers will have to replace seniors Fidelis Mutiso, who earned an individual spot in the NCAA National Championships last year, and Jarrid Casimir, but do return two of their top five runners from last season’s PBC Championships with senior Albert Mong’ony and sophomore Charles Anderson.

Augusta State reinstituted their men’s cross country program in 2010 after an eight-year hiatus and started strong, finishing fifth at the PBC Championships. The Jaguars hope to use that strong start as a springboard for further success in 2011 and return all five of their scoring runners from last season’s PBC Championships and NCAA Regional Championships. Sophomore Dustin Ross led the team at the PBC with a ninth-place finish while senior Clayton Holton was the Jaguars top runner at the NCAA regional.

The 2011 men’s cross country season begins on Sept. 2 and concludes on Oct. 22 at the PBC Championships which will be run at USC Aiken.

The full coaches’ poll is below. Teams were given eight points for a first-place vote, seven for a second and so on. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	Total
1. Columbus State	4	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	57
2. UNC Pembroke	4	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	56
3. Clayton State	0	0	4	3	0	1	0	0	42
4. Augusta State	0	3	1	1	2	0	0	1	41
5. Georgia College	0	0	2	3	3	0	0	0	39
6. Montevallo	1	0	1	0	1	3	2	0	31
7. Flagler	0	0	0	1	2	4	0	1	26
8. Armstrong Atlantic St.	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	6	17
9. Francis Marion	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	1	15

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Augusta State Chosen as Women’s Cross Country Preseason Favorite

For the first time, the Augusta State women’s cross country team has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the PBC Championship in a poll of the league’s head coaches released on Thursday.  The Lady Jaguars received three first-place votes and five second-place votes for a 72 point total, edging out perennial power Columbus State who was second with 63 points.  Clayton State was third in the voting with UNC Pembroke fourth and Georgia College fifth.  Montevallo, Flagler, Georgia Southwestern,  and a tie between USC Aiken and Francis Marion rounded out the voting.

Augusta State’s selection as the preseason favorite marks the first time a team other than Columbus State has been the preseason choice since the poll began in 2007.  The Lady Jaguars have grown the program into contenders with second-place finishes at the PBC Championships in three of the last four years, including 2010.  After reaching the NCAA National Championships in 2009 and finishing fourth at the NCAA Regionals last year, the Lady Jags return Lyndsay Nichols, Alicia Connolly and Angela Woodward, all of whom finished in the top 20 at last year’s PBC Championships.  ASU will have to contend with the loss of Holly Keeper and Claudia Nunez-Lopez, who were All-Conference performers a year ago.

Columbus State won their sixth consecutive PBC Championship at the 2010 event, the second-longest title streak in PBC women’s cross country history.  CSU finished third at last year’s NCAA regionals, but the 2011 team will have a much different look following the graduation of seniors Brittney Skiles, Naomi Tanui and Ashley Arnold.  Returning for the Cougars is sophomore Caroline Rotich, who finished ninth at last year’s PBC Championship, and the sister team of Moneque and Moneka English, both coming back for their junior seasons.

Clayton State finished fourth at the 2010 PBC Championships for the second year in a row, but had a seventh-place finish in the 28-team field at the NCAA regional.  The Lakers will be paced by senior Kourtney Aylor, who was the team’s top finisher at both the PBC and NCAA events.  Junior Paige Galvin had a top-20 finish at the PBC.  Samantha Walling and Gisele Javois also return for the 2011 season.

UNC Pembroke finished third at last year’s PBC Championship, their best result since 2005.  The Lady Braves, who also finished eighth at the NCAA Regionals, will be led by All-Conference senior Livia Mahaffie who was the team’s top finisher at both the PBC and NCAA races.  Junior Annette Sem and sophomore Ashlee Doughty also return from last year’s squad.

The 2011 women’s cross country season begins on Sept. 2 and concludes on Oct. 22 at the PBC Championships which will be run at USC Aiken.

The full coaches’ poll is below.  Teams were given nine points for a first-place vote, eight for a second and so on.  Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Total
1. Augusta State	3	5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	72
2. Columbus State	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	63
3. Clayton State	0	2	3	3	0	1	0	0	0	59
4. UNC Pembroke	1	1	1	4	1	0	0	0	1	54
5. Georgia College	0	0	2	1	5	0	1	0	0	48
6. Montevallo	0	0	0	2	3	2	1	1	0	40
7. Flagler	1	0	0	0	0	4	2	2	0	35
8. Georgia Southwestern	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	2	29
t9. Francis Marion	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	5	25
t9. USC Aiken	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	1	2	25

MEN’S SOCCER

Clayton State Chosen as Men’s Soccer Preseason Favorite

The Clayton State Lakers have been chosen as the preseason team to beat in the Peach Belt Conference as the league announced the preseason coaches poll on Wednesday.  The Lakers received six of a possible eight first-place votes for 60 total points, putting them four ahead of Flagler, who is second in the poll.  Montevallo is third with Lander in fourth and North Georgia fifth.  UNC Pembroke, Francis Marion, USC Aiken and Georgia Southwestern round out the voting.

Clayton State earns the top spot in the preseason poll for the second time in the last four years and are coming off of their most successful season to date after reaching the NCAA Elite Eight a year ago and claiming a share of the PBC regular-season title.  With a 19-4 overall record in 2010, Clayton State begins the 2011 season as the #5-ranked team in the nation in the NSCAA preseason national poll.  Seven starters are back for this season including 2010 PBC Player of the Year and All-American forward Ryan Pugh, first-team All-Conference forward Matty Phillips and second-team All-Conference goalkeeper Brian Garcia.

In their first two seasons in the Peach Belt, the Flagler Saints won the 2009 regular-season title, have played in the PBC Tournament final twice and made the NCAA postseason tournament twice.  The Saints begin 2011 ranked #22 in the nation after finishing last season with a 14-5-1 overall record and 6-2 mark in the PBC.  Flagler placed four players on the PBC preseason All-Conference team, more than any other league school, including senior All-American midfielder Johan Bergfeld, who is one of eight starters returning for 2011.  Will Frandsen, Mack Hough and Kevin Keenan were also placed on the PBC preseason team.

Montevallo won their first PBC Tournament title in 2010, defeating Flagler 2-1 in the final.  The Falcons are ranked #19 in the NSCAA preseason top 25 after finishing last season with an 18-2-2 record and serving as host of the NCAA southeast regionals.  The Falcons return a solid core of starters including midfielder Phil Jackson and defender Gary O’Neill, both of whom were placed on the preseason All-Conference team.  Also returning is second-team All-Conference goalkeeper Brendan Ledgeway.

The 2011 season begins on Sept. 1 and goes through to the PBC Tournament which begins with quarterfinal matches on campus Nov. 1 before the final four return to Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga., Nov. 4 and 6.

The full coaches’ poll is below.  Teams were given eight points for a first-place vote, seven for a second and so on.  Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	Total
1. Clayton State	6	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	60
2. Flagler	0	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	56
3. Montevallo	2	0	5	0	0	1	0	0	49
4. Lander	1	0	0	6	1	0	0	0	42
5. North Georgia	0	1	1	1	2	3	0	0	35
6. UNC Pembroke	0	0	1	2	3	2	0	0	34
7. Francis Marion	0	0	0	0	3	2	3	0	24
8. USC Aiken	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	3	14
9. Georgia Southwestern	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	10

Peach Belt Unveils Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team

The Peach Belt Conference has announced the 2011 men’s soccer preseason All-Conference team from the league office in Augusta.  Twelve players were named to the squad, an increase of one due to a tie at the midfield position.  Flagler College led the way with four honorees while Clayton State was next with three.  Montevallo and North Georgia had two each while UNC Pembroke had one.  The team is chosen by the league’s head coaches.

The Flagler foursome is led by senior midfielder Johan Bergfeld, who was named a second-team All-American by the NSCAA last year.  Also named first-team All-Conference in the Peach Belt, Bergfeld was the only Saint to start all 20 games a year ago and had a goal and three assists.  Senior forward Mack Hough was second on the team in goals with six and had four game-winners.  Senior Will Frandsen was named second-team All-Conference and to the NSCAA All-Region squad.  He had five goals and three assists for the Saints and was named a PBC Defender of the Week.  Sophomore defender Kevin Keenean played in 18 games with 11 starts as a freshman and was a key part of a defense that led the PBC with a 0.70 goals against average and allowed only 14 goals to be scored for the year.

Clayton State’s Ryan Pugh was named the 2010 PBC Player of the Year and helped the Lakers to reach the NCAA Elite Eight a season ago.  Now back for his senior season, Pugh was second in the PBC with 16 goals scored and also second in total points with 36.  He was also named an All-American by Daktronics. Senior forward Matty Phillips was tied for the league lead with nine assists a year ago and named first-team All-Conference.  He added four goals to that total and was tied for eighth in the PBC in total points. Senior team captain Sam Bevan anchored a Laker defense that allowed only 19 goals to be scored in 23 games and was second in the PBC with a 0.82 GAA.  Bevan also contributed offensively with two goals and two assists.

Montevallo’s Gary O’Neill was named second-team All-Conference as a freshman after starting in 21 games for the Falcons.  He was a key part of a defense that was tied for second in the PBC with only 19 goals allowed in 22 games and was third in the league with a 0.83 GAA.  Senior midfielder Phil Jackson was named to the PBC All-Tournament team after Montevallo captured the title last year.  He scored six goals with five assists in his 12 appearances with four game-winning goals.

North Georgia’s Rade Tanascovic was named the PBC first-team All-Conference goalkeeper in 2010.  Returning for his senior season, he had six shutouts last year and was fourth in the PBC with a 1.10 GAA. Juan Hurtado was named second-team All-Conference as a sophomore midfielder last year.  Returning for his junior campaign, he scored two goals with an assist last year, both of those goals game-winners.

UNC Pembroke’s Michael Davis makes his second PBC preseason All-Conference team.  A senior defender, he started in all 18 games for the Braves last year and was a pivotal part of a defense that had four shutouts, including two scoreless ties and two one-goal ties.

2011 PBC Men’s Soccer
Preseason All-Conference Team

Forwards
Mack Hough, Flagler
Matty Phillips, Clayton State
Ryan Pugh, Clayton State

Midfielders
Johan Bergfeld, Flagler
Will Frandsen, Flagler
Juan Hurtado, North Georgia
Phil Jackson, Montevallo

Defenders
Sam Bevan, Clayton State
Michael Davis, UNC Pembroke
Kevin Keenan, Flagler
Gary O’Neill, Montevallo

Goalkeeper
Rade Tanascovic, North Georgia

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Armstrong Atlantic State Named Women’s Soccer Preseason Favorite

For the first time, the Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates have been selected as the women’s soccer preseason favorite in a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches released on Monday.  The Pirates garnered five first-place and five second-place votes for a total of 95 points, edging out perennial power Columbus State, who was second with 93.  North Georgia is third in the voting with 78, two ahead of UNC Pembroke in fourth.  Lander was fifth, one point ahead of Georgia College in sixth.  Montevallo, Clayton State, Flagler, USC Aiken and Georgia Southwestern rounded out the voting.

Armstrong Atlantic State is coming off their most successful season since launching the program in 2005.  The Pirates claimed a share of the 2010 PBC regular-season championship for the first time ever and reached the NCAA Southeast Region championship game.  Ranked #11 in the NSCAA preseason top 25, the Pirates return eight starters and 20 players from last year’s 14-4-2 squad including senior defender Kelli Bahr, junior forward Kristina Pascutti and junior midfielder Morgan Mitchell, all of whom were placed on the PBC preseason All-Conference team.

Columbus State sees their run of four straight PBC preseason selections come to an end but the Lady Cougars begin the 2011 season ranked #16 in the nation and strong contenders to extend their PBC-record streak of regular-season championships to seven.  CSU won their fourth PBC Tournament title in the last five years last season and made their fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  Returning is 2010 PBC co-Player of the Year Stephanie Lowery who set a single-season school record with 19 goals scored.  Also back is sophomore defender Kansas Bayly, who was named to the PBC preseason All-Conference team.

North Georgia is also coming off their most successful season ever at 14-5-1, setting a school record for wins in the NCAA era.  The Lady Saints also made their first appearance in the PBC Tournament championship game after upsetting Armstrong in the semifinals.  Six starters and 15 letterwinners return for 2011 including junior forward Kelsey Martin who was the 2009 PBC Freshman of the Year and in 2010 was in the PBC’s top 10 in goals and points.  Senior midfielder Natalie Douglass also returns after scoring seven goals a year ago.  Both players were named preseason All-Conference.

UNC Pembroke reached the NCAA postseason for the second time in the last three years in 2010 after finishing third in the PBC standings with a 16-4-2 overall record.  The Lady Braves turned in the second-most wins in school history and won 16 or more for the second time in three seasons.  The Lady Braves won with defense and look to have one of the top defensive teams in the league with the return of goalkeeper Brittany Bennett and defender Fanny Forsman. Bennett was named the 2010 PBC Freshman of the Year and led the conference with 10 shutouts and a 0.50 GAA.  Forsman was part of a defense that led the PBC with a 0.53 team GAA and she also had three assists.

The 2011 season begins on Sept. 1 and goes through to the PBC Tournament which begins with quarterfinal matches on campus Nov. 1 before the final four return to Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga., Nov. 4 and 6.

The full coaches’ poll is below.  Teams were given 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for a second and so on.  Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	Total
1. Armstrong Atlantic State	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	95
2. Columbus State	4	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	93
3. North Georgia	2	1	3	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	78
4. UNC Pembroke	0	0	7	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	76
5. Lander	0	0	0	2	3	4	1	0	0	0	56
6. Georgia College	0	0	0	2	4	3	0	0	1	0	55
7. Montevallo	0	0	0	3	0	3	3	0	0	1	49
t8. Clayton State	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	6	1	0	36
t8. Flagler	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	4	0	0	36
10. USC Aiken	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	4	17
11. Georgia Southwestern	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	6	14

Peach Belt Announces Women’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team

The Peach Belt Conference has announced the 11-member women’s soccer preseason All-Conference team as voted on by the league’s head coaches.  Armstrong Atlantic State led the way with three selections to the team while North Georgia, Columbus State and UNC Pembroke had two each.  Lander and Flagler had one player named to the team.

Armstrong had one forward, one midfielder and one defender on the team.  Junior forward Kristina Pascutti started 15 matches as a sophomore and was named first-team All-Conference and second-team All-Region by the NSCAA.  Pascutti scored seven goals with three assists and was tied for ninth in the PBC in goals scored.  Junior midfielder Morgan Mitchell started 19 games as a sophomore and was named first-team All-Conference and first-team All-Region by Daktronics.  Mitchell scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over UNC Pembroke in the NCAA regionals, one of her five goals on the year with three assists.  Senior defender Kelli Bahr started 19 matches and was named a Daktronics honorable mention All-American in 2010.  Named first-team All-Conference she was a two-time PBC Defender of the Week and led a defense that was third in the PBC with a 0.85 goals against average.

North Georgia’s Kelsey Martin was named the 2009 PBC Freshman of the Year and in 2010 was tied for ninth in the league with seven goals scored.  Returning for her junior season at forward, she added one assist last season and three of her goals were game-winners.  Senior midfielder Natalie Douglass started in all 20 games for the Saints and scored seven goals on the year, including a score against Armstrong in an upset win in the PBC Tournament semifinals.  Douglas added two assists and was tied for ninth in the league in goals scored.

Columbus State’s Stephanie Lowery set a single-season school record and led the PBC with 19 goals scored in 2010.  Named an All-American by the NSCAA and Daktronics, she was the co-PBC Player of the Year and named first-team All-Conference.  She started in all 22 games for the Lady Cougars with five assists and led the league with 43 total points. Sophomore defender Kansas Bayly was named first-team All-Conference as a freshman and a PBC Defender of the Week.  She started 15 games for the Lady Cougars with three goals and two assists.  She played a key role on a CSU defense that allowed only 12 goals to be scored during the season, tied for the league low.

UNC Pembroke’s Brittany Bennett was named the 2010 PBC Freshman of the Year after a remarkable season in goal for the Lady Braves.  She started 20 games and led the league with 1799 minutes played in goal.  She also led the PBC with 10 shutouts last year and was second with a 0.50 goals against average.  Junior defender Fanny Forsman also started 20 games for UNCP last season and was named second-team All-Conference and third-team All-Region by the NSCAA.  Forsman keyed a defense that led the PBC with a 0.53 GAA and had three assists on the season.

Flagler’s Lindsay Zullo started all 17 games at forward last year for the Saints.  She was named second-team All-Conference after scoring five goals.  Lander’s Jamie Shaw was named second-team All-Conference after leading the team in goals with eight.  The junior forward was tied for sixth in the league in goals and ninth in total points.

2011 PBC Women’s Soccer
Preseason All-Conference Team

Forwards
Kelsey Martin, North Georgia
Kristina Pascutti, Armstrong
Jamie Shaw, Lander
Lindsay Zullo, Flagler

Midfielders
Natalie Douglass, North Georgia
Stephanie Lowery, Columbus State
Morgan Mitchell, Armstrong

Defenders
Kelli Bahr, Armstrong
Kansas Bayly, Columbus St.
Fanny Forsman, UNC Pembroke

Goalkeeper
Britney Bennett, UNC Pembroke

VOLLEYBALL

Flagler Voted Peach Belt Volleyball Preseason Top Team

For the second straight year, the Flagler Saints have been voted as the Peach Belt Conference volleyball preseason favorite in a poll of the league’s head coaches released on Friday.  The Saints received six of a possible eight first-place votes to lead with 48 total points, eight ahead of Armstrong Atlantic State in second.  Montevallo was third with 38 points with USC Aiken fourth at 33.  Francis Marion, UNC Pembroke, Augusta State and Lander rounded out the voting.

In their first two years as a part of the Peach Belt Conference, Flagler has been nothing short of dominant, winning two straight regular-season titles and two straight PBC Tournaments.  The Saints are 26-2 against conference competition in that time and 65-18 overall the past two years.  For 2011, Flagler will have to replace 2010 PBC Player of the Year Meg Weathersby, but do return four starters from last year’s squad including hitters Dianna Craine and Rachel Stacy, who were both named to the PBC preseason All-Conference team.  Also returning is senior setter Olivia Snipes who was named a co-Setter of the Year last season.

Armstrong has finished second in the PBC standings in each of the past two years and reached the championship game of the PBC Tournament both times.  The Pirates return an experienced team for 2011 with five seniors and five juniors on the roster.  Junior hitter Brittany Wolf was named to the preseason All-Conference team and the 2010 All-Tournament team.  Sophomore hitter Jessica Santaniello was named second-team All-Conference last year after leading the team and 10^th in the Peach Belt in total kills.

Montevallo finished second in the PBC standings in 2010 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a member of the Peach Belt.  The Falcons led the Peach Belt in kills and assists last year and were second in digs.  Returning are PBC Freshman of the Year Manyi Ati and PBC co-Setter of the Year Anna Garrison.  Ati was third in the league in both kills and hitting percentage while Garrison led the conference in assists.  She is also one of three seniors returning for UM along with Jessica Guidry and Rachel Wotizky.

USC Aiken finished fourth in the PBC in 2010 with a young team but return five starters and 13 letterwinners for 2011.  Among those returning for the Pacers are junior hitter Shannon Byers who was named first-team All-Conference last year and junior Samantha Lukralle, the 2010 PBC Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year.  Junior setter Ashley Farwell had over 700 assists last year while sophomore hitters Emily Maassen and Leah Rodgers each collected over 200 kills.

The 2011 volleyball season begins on Friday, Sept. 2, with conference contests getting underway in full on Sept. 23.  The season will conclude with the 21^st PBC Tournament which will be held Nov. 11-13 at the Christenberry Fieldhouse at Augusta State University.

The full coaches poll is listed below.  Teams received seven points for a first-place vote, six for a second-place vote and so on.  Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	Total
1. Flagler	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	48
2. Armstrong Atlantic State	2	2	2	1	0	0	0	40
3. Montevallo	0	4	2	1	0	0	0	38
4. USC Aiken	0	1	3	3	0	0	0	33
5. Francis Marion	0	0	0	1	5	1	0	21
6. UNC Pembroke	0	0	1	1	1	4	0	20
7. Augusta State	0	0	0	1	2	1	3	15
8. Lander	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	9

PBC Releases Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team

The Peach Belt Conference has released the 2011 Preseason All-Conference team from the league office in Augusta.  Eight volleyball players were named to the team with Flagler, Montevallo and USC Aiken garnering two honorees each while UNC Pembroke and Armstrong Atlantic State had one apiece.  The team is chosen by the league’s head coaches.

Flagler’s Rachel Stacy led the PBC in hitting percentage in 2010 and was named first team All-Conference.   Returning for her junior season, Stacy was also third in the conference in aces and third on the team in total kills and total blocks.  Junior outside hitter Dianna Craine was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2010 PBC Tournament, which Flagler won for the second straight year.  Craine was ranked 11^th in the PBC in total kills and 15^th in digs.  She had seven double-doubles on the year.

Montevallo’s Anna Garrison was named first-team All-Conference and the PBC’s co-Setter of the Year in 2010.  Now returning for her senior season she has the opportunity to crack the PBC’s all-time top 10 for career assists as she now sits in 12^th with 2,769.  She led the PBC with 11.31 assists per set last year with her 1,493 the 11^th-highest single-season total in league history.   Sophomore Manyi Ati was the recipient of many of those assists as she led the team and was third in the PBC in kills.  She was also third in hitting percentage.  The 2010 PBC Freshman of the Year, Ati was also named first-team All-Conference and All-Region by the AVCA.

USC Aiken’s Samantha Lukralle was named the 2010 PBC Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year after finishing fourth in the PBC with 4.99 per set.  Her 634 digs last season set a single-season school record and is the eighth-highest single-season total in PBC history.  Returning for her junior season, Lukralle was also named All-Region by Daktronics and placed on the PBC All-Tournament team.  Shannon Byers also returns for her junior season after being named first-team All-Conference last year.  The outside hitter led the team and was seventh in the league with 339 kills and was second on the team behind Lukralle with 325 digs.  Byers recorded 13 double-doubles last year.

UNC Pembroke senior outside hitter Rebecca Morgan was named second-team All-Conference for the Braves in 2010.  She led the team with 301 kills, also fifth-best in the Peach Belt, and was 13^th in the league with a .217 hitting percentage.  She was one of only nine players in the league to collect 20 or more kills in a single match, which she did against Francis Marion with 20 kills.

Armstrong’s Brittany Wolf led the PBC and was ranked 24^th nationally with 1.82 blocks per set.  The junior outside hitter was also ranked in the league’s top 10 in hitting percentage and was named to the PBC All-Tournament team.  She had 13 blocks at Augusta State, tied for the fifth-most blocks in a single match in PBC history.

2011 Peach Belt Conference Volleyball
Preseason All-Conference Team

Hitters
Manyi Ati, Montevallo
Shannon Byers, USC Aiken
Dianna Craine, Flagler
Rebecca Morgan, UNC Pembroke
Rachel Stacy, Flagler
Brittany Wolf, Armstrong Atlantic State

Setter
Anna Garrison, Montevallo

Libero
Samantha Lukralle, USC Aiken