Peach Belt Reveals Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team

AUGUSTA, GA -- The Peach Belt Conference has released the nine-member preseason volleyball All-Conference team from the league office in Augusta. The team was selected by the league’s head coaches and represents six of the eight volleyball-playing schools in the conference. Defending PBC Champion Armstrong Atlantic State leads the way with three selections while PBC newcomer Flagler has two. Augusta State, Lander, UNC Pembroke and another new PBC team, Montevallo, have one honoree each.

Armstrong Atlantic State’s Torrie Bevolo was named the 2008 PBC Tournament most valuable player and AVCA All-Region as a freshman. Now returning for her sophomore season, Bevolo led the Pirates with 393 kills, the 10th-highest singles-season total in school history. Michelle Remlinger led the PBC and was ranked 22nd in the NCAA with a .352 hitting percentage. The senior middle hitter was also ranked ninth in kills per set and was named a PBC Player of the Week. Casey Howett is the preseason All-Conference libero. The sophomore was named All-Region by the AVCA after recording 3.87 digs per set with 492 total digs on the season, the second-most in a single season at AASU.

Flagler enters their first season as a member of the Peach Belt, but their reputation has preceded them with two preseason All-Conference selections. Senior outside hitter Justine Burkhart has been named the Independent Collegiate Athletic Association player of the year twice and is Flagler’s all-time career kills leader. Last season, Burkhart was ranked 33rd nationally with 3.64 kills per set. She also led the team in aces and was second in digs. Meg Weathersby begins her junior year after being named All-ICAA last year. The outside hitter was second on the team with 329 kills and was also second in aces and fourth in digs.

Augusta State’s Jessica Howard led the PBC with 488 kills in 2008 and was named All-Conference. The returning senior also led the league and was ranked 11th nationally with 1.2 blocks per set. Lander’s Candace LaRocca is the preseason All-Conference setter. The 2007 PBC Freshman of the Year, she was ranked third in the PBC in assists in 2008 with 9.48 per game. The junior was also ranked seventh in aces and 13th in digs. UNC Pembroke’s Allie Schnieder was named the 2008 PBC Freshman of the Year after leading the Lady Braves with 322 kills which was also third in the conference. She was one of three PBC players to be ranked in the top 10 in kills and digs. Montevallo begins their first season of PBC play in 2009 and will look to senior middle hitter Katie Johnson on the front line. Johnson led the Falcons in hitting percentage and was ranked third on the team in both kills and blocks while turning in 80 aces and 1.67 digs per game.

Peach Belt Conference
2009 Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team

Hitters
Torrie Bevolo, Armstrong Atlantic State
Justine Burkhart, Flagler
Jessica Howard, Augusta State
Katie Johnson, Montevallo
Michelle Remlinger, Armstrong Atlantic State
Allie Schneider, UNC Pembroke
Meg Weathersby, Flagler
Setter
Candace LaRocca, Lander
Libero
Casey Howett, Armstrong Atlantic State