August 23, 2006
USA South announces preseason polls
Cross country, soccer and volleyball all released today

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  The USA South Conference office released the preseason polls today for cross country, soccer and volleyball.  The polls are based on votes from each conference member's head coach without voting for themselves.

Christopher Newport University swept the top spot in the polls (Ferrum was predicted number one in the football poll announced last month), but Methodist was not far behind.  The Methodist women's soccer team has been voted second in a tie with Greensboro after receiving 39 votes.  First year coach Tony Tommasi has a strong group of returning players along with several newcomers.  Tommasi is hoping to earn a chance to take the team back to the USA Conference championship and finish with a title led by first team all-conference junior Chrystal Bradley.  On the men's side, Methodist was picked fourth with 23 votes.  Head coach Justin Terranova has fourteen new freshmen ready to get on the field.  All of the returning players were able to gain valuable experience in Brazil this summer led by the play of Dustin Breckenridge.  Together, the team is hoping to defy all expectations to earn their own conference title.

The women's cross country team has been selected third in the conference poll.  Tim Ryerson takes over as head coach this year with hopes of filling the women's roster to allow the team to score in the conference meet.  Second-team all-conference performer, Krystal Patton returns for her junior season with both experience and conference accolades.  The men's cross country team returns with USA South Runner of the Year, Husein Nasiro-Sigo, but was still only picked in a tie for fourth.  They will have a young team joining Nasiro-Sigo, but Ryerson is excited about the opportunity to help the team grow throughout the season.

The Methodist volleyball team is coming off their best season in thirteen years and find themselves selected fourth in the preseason poll.  Coach Eddie Matthews lost four athletes to graduation, but replacing them are sixteen newcomers anxious for September 1^st so the season can begin.  Jennifer Ellis finished her career last season named to the USA South All-Conference team three times, but Matthews has high expectations for returning players Sara Yeatman and Lauren Holton to step into Ellis' role.

To read more about the preseason polls and to see the entire voting results visit: http://www.usasouth.net/