Aug. 26, 2008

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - For the second consecutive season, the University of Tennessee volleyball team has been picked to finish third in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division, as determined by a vote of the league's 11 head coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday morning. With a total of 33 points, the Lady Vols were selected to finish behind league-title favorites Florida and Kentucky.

Following Florida (11 points), Kentucky (18) and Tennessee (33) in the East were Georgia (38) and South Carolina (40). LSU, meanwhile, was the unanimous selection to win the Western Division, with Ole Miss (21), Alabama (27), Arkansas (41), Auburn (44) and Mississippi State (52) rounding out the group.

The Gators received the majority of the votes for SEC champion with seven, while LSU earned three and the Wildcats picked up a single nomination in the preseason survey.

Points were compiled on a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Western Division and 1-2-3-4-5 for the Eastern Division. Each coach was not allowed to vote for his or her own team and each coach also voted for one team as an overall conference champion.

The Lady Vols will open the 2008 campaign in Milwaukee, Wis., at the Marquette Kick-Off Classic. First up for the Big Orange will be in-state rival Chattanooga on Aug. 29 at 5:30 p.m. ET.