ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon volleyball team has been picked to finish third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division, according to the league's preseason coaches poll released Monday afternoon.

Defending champion California (Pa.) received three first-place votes, followed by Clarion, who picked up two. Gannon was third in the poll, followed by Edinboro with each school earning a first-place vote. Mercyhurst, Indiana (Pa.) and Slippery Rock rounded out the Western Division half of the poll.

Lock Haven was the unanimous pick in the Eastern Division, earning all seven first-place votes. West Chester was picked second, followed by Shippensburg and Kutztown. East Stroudsburg and Millersville tied for fifth place with Cheyney completing the poll.

In just his third season as Gannon's head coach, Matt Darling led the Lady Knights back to the NCAA Tournament for the first for the time since 1995. Darling, who earned PSAC West Coach of the Year honors in 2009, returns 12 letterwinners from last season's squad. Libero Jess Saunders (Hinckley, Ohio/Highland) and Kendall Fischer (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) lead the team in experience as this season's senior class.

In 2010 Gannon also returns PSAC Freshman of the year Morgan Reineke (New Knoxville, Ohio/New Knoxville) along with PSAC second team selections Lauren Sazama (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville) and Kara Cullen (Marstons Mills, Mass./Barnstable). Reineke led the team with 386 kills and totaled 50 service aces, second-most on the Knights. She is the first Gannon player to be named first team all-conference since 2003. Cullen led the PSAC in blocks per set with 1.13, good for 19th in all of Division II. She also hit .294, eighth-best in the league. Sazama recorded 76 aces this season, most in the PSAC and sixth-most nationally. She also tallied 15 double-doubles and 322 kills.

Gannon's 22 wins in 2009 marked the program's highest victory total since the 1995 squad went 25-7. In addition, the Lady Knights qualified for the conference tournament for the first time since the 2003 edition played in the GLIAC tournament. The 2003 campaign also represented Gannon's last winning season (21-9) prior to 2009.

The Lady Knights open up the new season at the Davis & Elkins tournament September 3rd and 4th, with the home opener slated for September 21 when Gannon hosts Edinboro. 

For the complete 2010 PSAC Women's Volleyball Coaches Poll, please click here.