Aug. 23, 2004

BAY CITY, Mich. - The Wayne State volleyball team was selected to finish in sixth place in the South Division by the head coaches of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in preseason balloting, released the league office Monday. The coaches chose Northern Michigan University to win the league's North Division, and the University of Findlay to take the South Division.

Northern Michigan, the 2003 GLIAC North Division and tournament champion, received 33 points and four of the six first-place votes it was eligible for. Northwood University garnered 28 points and two firstplace votes. Grand Valley State University placed third in the division with 27 points. Ferris State University finished fourth with 26 points. Michigan Tech University placed fifth in the division with 16 points, followed by Lake Superior State University (10 points) and Saginaw Valley State University (7).

Findlay, after claiming last season's South Division crown, received 24 points and four first-place votes in the poll. The Oilers out distanced Hillsdale College by two points (24-22). The Chargers received the two remaining first-place nods. Ashland University tallied 16 points to finish third, followed by Mercyhurst College (12 points), Gannon University (9), and Wayne State University (7).

The GLIAC proved to be one of Division II's toughest conferences last season, sending three teams -- Northern Michigan, Grand Valley State, and Findlay -- to the NCAA II Great Lakes Region Tournament. Grand Valley State emerged as the regional champion, earning a trip to the "Elite Eight," Division II's national championship tournament, reaching the semifinals before bowing out.

Each of the GLIAC's 13 coaches voted for the division in which they play, but were not allowed to vote for their own team. The first-place team in the North Division ballot received six points, while the secondplace team received five points, etc. The first-place team in the South Division received five points, while the second-place team received four points, etc.

GLIAC volleyball teams open play on Friday, Aug. 27 with conference play beginning Tuesday, Sept. 14. The 2004 GLIAC Volleyball Championship Tournament will have a new format. The Tournament quarterfinals will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 10 on campus sites, while the semifinals and finals are scheduled to take place on Nov. 13 & 14 on the campus of the highest remaining seed.

2004 GLIAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
South Division

Rank	School (First-Place Votes)	Points
1.	Findlay (4)	24
2.	Hillsdale (2)	22
3.	Ashland	16
4.	Mercyhurst	12
5.	Gannon	9
6.	Wayne State	7