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VOLLEYBALL TEAM FAVORED
TO WIN GSC EAST, OVERALL TITLE
 BELLINGER
IS PRE-SEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Head volleyball coaches in the Gulf South
Conference have tabbed perennial power North
Alabama as the pre-season favorite for the
upcoming 2006 season. The Lions edged West
Florida 33-32 in the East Division and were also
chosen to win the overall title with seven
votes, followed by Harding’s five and West
Florida’s two.
In the East, UNA got four first-place votes, one
second-place and one for third place, while West
Florida received three votes for first place,
two for second and one or third. The division
was rounded out by Alabama-Huntsville (24), West
Georgia (20), Montevallo (19), Valdosta State
(11) and West Alabama (8).
Harding dominating the voting in the West
Division, receiving all six first-place votes
for 36 total points. Arkansas Tech was second in
the poll with 31 points followed by Christian
Brothers (26), Henderson State (21), Ouachita
Baptist (14), Arkansas-Monticello (10) and
Southern Arkansas (9).
UNA returns seven letterman and three starters
from last season’s squad that went 36-2 and
advanced to the second round of the South
Central Region Tournament. The Lions swept
through conference play with a 12-0 record in
2005 and went on to win their third straight GSC
title (15th overall), defeating Harding 3-2 in
the championship match.
One of the Lions’ top returnees received
pre-season All-GSC honors.
Setter Laura Bellinger enters her senior
season coming off an All-America campaign in
2005. Last season, the Portage, Mich., native
led the conference in assists-per-game with
14.36, while her 1,910 total assists was tops in
the nation.
Incoming players Nilcia Oliveira (5-11, OH, Joao
Pessoa, Brazil) and Kasie Spencer (6-2, MB, La
Verkin, Utah) were also named to the GSC Top
Newcomers list.
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