Volleyball Ranks Among Nation's Best in October 2 AVCA Top 25 Division III Poll

by Sports Information
10/2/02

LANCASTER, PA - Following victories over Centennial Conference opponents Dickinson, Washington College and Haverford, the Franklin & Marshall College women's volleyball team received eight votes in the American Volleyball Coaches (AVCA) Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll.

Outside hitter Kristen Kowalski (Sr., York, PA/Central York) helped lead the Diplomats to a 3-0 week in Centennial Conference action.

She totaled 20 kills and 10 digs against Dickinson College. In a tri-meet at Washington, Kowalski recorded 10 kills, two aces and six digs against the host Shorewomen and then pitched in 11 kills, five digs and a solo block in the win against Haverford.

As a team, the Diplomats rank among the Conference best in kills per game (13.92, 1st), hitting percentage (.255, 1st), assists (12.34, 1st), service aces (2.81, 1st) and digs (18.21, 4th).

Individually, Kowalski ranks in kills per game (3.32, 7) and hitting percentage (.267, 3rd). Heidi Goedicke (Sr., Spring Church, PA/Elderton) ranks in kills per game (3.42, 5th), hitting percentage (.243, 9th) and digs (3.61, 8th). Rose Hartmann (Sr., Warminster, PA/William Tennent) ranks in kills per game (2.97, 10th), hitting percentage (.278, 2nd), service aces (.77, 1st) and blocks (.74, 9th). Jackie Skibbie (Fr., Darby, PA/Merion Mercy ) leads the Conference in assists with 637 for an average of 11.38 per game.

Overall, F&M is the only Centennial Conference team to receive national votes in this week's poll.

Washington University (MO) is ranked first in the nation with 399 votes, including 15 first place votes. Cal State Hayward (374), Juniata (353), Trinity (350), Wisconsin-River Falls (313), Wisconsin-Whitewater (310), Whitworth (306), Mount St. Joseph (279), Emory (250) and Wartburg (249) round out the top 10 teams in the nation.

The complete AVCA poll is available at www.avca.org

Franklin & Marshall (18-3, 4-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on October 5-6 at the Cortland State (NY) Invitational. First serve is set for 1 p.m.