DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Sun Conference announced the coaches’ preseason polls for men’s soccer, volleyball and women’s soccer Thursday and Warner was picked to finish fifth, sixth and seventh respectively with reigning Commissioner Cup winner Embry-Riddle University picked to claim the conference crown in each sport.
Despite finishing third last season in the overall standings with a 6-2-1 conference mark and a 10-5-1 overall record while earning their second consecutive trip to The Sun Conference Tournament, the Royals men’s soccer squad corralled 54 total points for the fifth place position. The Eagles tallied 97 total points including seven first-place votes, followed by SCAD (91) who grabbed the remaining three first-place votes, Northwood (74), St. Thomas (69), Warner (54), Florida Memorial (47), Webber International (42), Ave Maria (29), Southeastern (24) and Johnson & Wales (23).
The Royals return two All-Conference players in senior defender Reginald Francois and 2009 scoring leader, senior forward Marc Jeanty. The team will kick off their regular season September 1 when they host cross-town rival Webber International in a non-conference match.
The Warner women’s volleyball team is coming off their best season in program history after posting their first winning overall (16-14) and conference mark (10-8) while earning their first postseason win in the conference tournament as the fifth seed over fourth seed St. Thomas. This season the Royals will look to build on that foundation although the league coaches picked them to finish sixth. Embry-Riddle earned 77 total points with five first-place votes, followed by conference tournament champions SCAD (70), Webber International (54), St. Thomas, Ave Maria, Warner, Southeastern, Northwood and Florida Memorial.
The women’s volleyball squad returns All-Conference outside hitter sophomore Jenni Cook who led the team in kills (241) and kills per set (2.62). The team will begin their 2010 season August 28 in the Webber International Tournament when they play a non-conference match vs. in-county rival Southeastern.
In his first year at the helm of the women’s soccer program, head coach Nelson Ramirez led the Royals to a program best 4-5 conference mark while posting a 7-8 overall record to finish tied sixth in the conference with Southeastern. This season the Sun Conference coaches predicted a seventh place finish for the Royals. Embry-Riddle received six first-place votes with 54 total points, followed by Northwood (47)with one first-place vote, SCAD (45), Webber International (40), Southeastern (34), St. Thomas (32), Warner (23), Florida Memorial (19), Ave Maria (13), and Johnson & Wales (8).
Ramirez has assembled a talented squad to compete in the tough Sun Conference, which includes the return of its top two scorers in Danielle Chapuseaux (28 points) and Tara Fadenrecht (20 points). The Royals get their season rolling September 3 when they travel to Amherst, N.Y. to face Daemen College (N.Y.)
2010 Men’s Soccer Preaseson Poll
1. Embry-Riddle 97 (7)
2. SCAD 91 (3)
3. Northwood 74
4. St. Thomas 69
5. Warner 54
6. Florida Memorial 47
7. Webber International 42
8. Ave Maria 29
9. Southeastern 24
10. Johnson & Wales 23
2010 Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Embry-Riddle 77 (5)
2. SCAD 70
3. Webber International 54
4. St. Thomas
5. Ave Maria
6. Warner
7. Southeastern
8. Northwood
9. Florida Memorial
2010 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Embry-Riddle 54 (6)
2. Northwood 47 (1)
3. SCAD 45
4. Webber International 40
5. Southeastern 34
6. St. Thomas 32
7. Warner 23
8. Florida Memorial 19
9. Ave Maria 13
10. Johnson & Wales 8
First Place Votes in Parentheses