COACHES PICK SE VOLLEYBALL TO REPEAT

Southeast Missouri State University volleyball coach Cindy Gannon appreciates the respect her peers have given the Otahkians by picking them to repeat as Ohio Valley Conference champions.

But she also knows the respect will mean little once the season begins early next month.

"We're still going to have to do it on the court," she said.

The OVC preseason poll was released Tuesday and Southeast is a heavy favorite in voting by the league's head coaches. The Otahkians, who are chasing their eighth regular-season title in 10 years, received seven of eight possible first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team).

Eastern Illinois earned two first-place votes for second place and Austin Peay was picked third. Eastern Kentucky was tabbed for fourth while Murray State and Tennessee Tech tied for fifth, followed by Tennessee-Martin, Morehead State and Tennessee State.

"It's very flattering that the coaches picked us," Gannon said. "I knew we would be picked high, but I wasn't sure if we'd be picked to win it. I anticipate Eastern Illinois will be very strong and I'm a little shocked Murray State wasn't picked higher. It will be a tough fight.

"I know from a coach's perspective that the league is going to be very strong. I don't put much merit into preseason polls. We're still going to have to get the job done."

The Otahkians return eight letterwinners and three starters from a team that went 17-1 in conference play and 28-6 overall while capturing its fourth OVC Tournament title.

Those three returning regulars all earned spots on the preseason all-OVC team that was announced Tuesday in conjunction with the poll. Senior outside hitters Krista Haukap and Lea Beckemeyer are first-team preseason picks while senior middle blocker Rachelle Knapp is a second-team choice.

Last year, Haukap earned first-team all-OVC honors as the league's top kill producer while Beckemeyer was a second-team choice.

"We do have a lot of experience back, but we'll be young at the setting position," said Gannon, whose squad lost its setter, 1999 OVC Player of the Year Amy Henken, to graduation.

The Otahkians began practice Thursday.

2000 preseason

volleyball poll

(Selected by conference head coaches)

1. SE Missouri 63

2. E. Illinois 53

3. Austin Peay 48

4. E. Kentucky 40

5. Murray St. 37

5. Tenn. Tech 37

7. Tenn.-Martin 22

8. Morehead St. 16

9. Tenn. St. 8