Aug. 19, 2003

Florida Atlantic University's volleyball team finds itself ranked third in the 2003 Atlantic Sun Conference volleyball preseason poll released today by the conference office. The Owls, which received three first place votes, finished last season third in the A-Sun and fell in the semifinals of the A-Sun Tournament in a tough five-game loss to Georgia State University.

With four starters returning to the squad, FAU will try to try to improve its record to eight straight semifinal appearances in the A-Sun Tournament. The single season assist record holder, Jeana Boyle, returns to anchor the team. Abby Miner, Iana Andonova, Lindsey Bell and Giovana Milaneze all saw extensive time on the court last season for FAU and are expected to play integral parts on the squad.

Florida Atlantic will have an advantage against the top-two teams in the conference this year as the team hosts UCF and GSU at home on October 21 and November 1, respectively.

The Owls will open the season on August 29 in Tallahassee, as they take on Florida State and Kansas State in the first day of action at the Florida State Invitational. A-Sun play will begin on October 3 when the team travels to Nashville, TN to face Belmont University.

2003 Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. UCF-118 (8 first place votes)
2. Georgia State-106
3. Florida Atlantic-102 (3 first place votes)
4. Troy State-81
5. Jacksonville-76
6. Stetson-62
7. Belmont-58
8. Mercer-51
9. Campbell-30
10. Gardner-Webb-27
11. Lipscomb-18