STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern setter Kate Van Dyke (Shawnee, Kan./Bishop Miege) was named preseason All-SoCon for the second straight season, and the Eagles were picked third in the South Division in a poll announced today by the league’s coaches.

The Eagles were picked behind College of Charleston and Furman but garnered three first-place votes, equaling the Paladins.  Davidson, Wofford and The Citadel round out the South in the poll, while defending league champion Samford was picked to win the North and logged 10 first-place votes. Appalachian State was picked second, and Elon was tabbed third in the North, followed by UNCG, Chattanooga and Western Carolina.

Van Dyke, a three-time, first-team All-SoCon selection, enters the campaign just 181 assists shy of the school career record and 1,638 away from the SoCon mark. She recorded 1,465 assists in 2010, her highest output as an Eagle. The senior collected 1,305 assists, 306 digs, 107 kills and 52 blocks a season ago.

The Eagles return 10 letterwinners from the 2011 squad that posted an 18-15 overall record and a 10-6 mark in SoCon games. Three players who started half the team’s matches last season, Van Dyke, Enjoli Johnson and Moriah Bellissimo, are back in uniform for 2012.

Fans can meet the GSU volleyball team this Saturday, Aug. 18, at Paulson Stadium prior to the football scrimmage. The Eagles will be greeting fans and signing autographs, beginning at 9 a.m.

Georgia Southern opens the campaign at the University of Georgia in the Benson Hospitality Bulldog Invitational Aug. 24-26. The Eagles’ home slate begins with a 6 p.m. match against Mercer Sept. 4, and they host the SpringHill Suites Invitational, with opponents Wisconsin, Jacksonville, South Alabama and Savannah State, Sept. 13-15, in Hanner Fieldhouse.

Fans can follow their Eagles at GSEagles.com or receive short updates at facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics or on Google+ at gplus.to/GSAthletics.

2012 Preseason Coaches' Poll
School (First-Place Votes)-Total Points
North
1.     Samford (10)- 65
2.     Appalachian State (2)- 48
3.     Elon- 41
4.     UNCG-38
5.     Chattanooga-27
        Western Carolina-27

South
1.     College of Charleston (6)-59
2.     Furman (3)-57
3.     Georgia Southern (3)-52
4.     Davidson-36
5.     Wofford-26
6.     The Citadel-16

2012 Preseason All-Conference Team
Name, School, Position
Elizabeth Neisler, Samford, OH
Lauren Hutchinson, Samford, MB
Kate Van Dyke, Georgia Southern, S
Sloane White, CofC, MB/RS
Natalie Braun, Furman, OH
Katie Murphy, Samford, MB
Caroline Brown, Davidson, OH
Caroline Adams, Furman, MB