Aug. 22, 2006
Complete Release A-10 Pre-Season Poll in PDF Format
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The Atlantic 10 2006 Fall Pre-season Coaches predictions are out and Duquesne University is listed among the top five in three of its five sports as voted upon by the league head coach in their respective sports. Leading the way is men's cross country which is picked second. Not far behind is men's soccer at third, volleyball at fourth in the West, women's cross country is slated at fifth and women's soccer is predicted to place seventh. Bragging rights are at stake for the cross country programs as Duquesne is host to the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championship set for Oct. 28 at Schenley Park.
The men's cross country team is coming off the University's first-ever cross country Atlantic 10 Championship and will battle this year to make it two in a row. Returning this season for 11th-year head coach Jim Lear are three of the five All-Conference performers from last season in senior Chris Horvat, junior Tom Slosky and sophomore Josh Eddy. The trio finished among Duquesne's top five runners in all seven races last season and will be looked upon to duplicate those finishes this year. The Dukes begin their season Sept. 2 at the Duquesne Duals.
Under the direction of first year head coach Jake Ouimet, the men's soccer team looks to make its fifth straight Atlantic 10 Championship appearance and capture its first ever NCAA Championship berth. The Dukes return eight starters from last year's 13-5 squad and are led by Pre-season All-Conference choices junior midfielder Travis MacKenzie, senior defender Noah Salsi and 2005 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, senior goalkeeper Zach Varga. MacKenzie returns as the team's top scorer from 2005, Salsi will continue to lead DU's league-leading defense and Varga will look to improve upon his school record 0.76 career goals against average. Ouimet's initial slate at the Duquesne helm begins Aug. 25-26 at the Bradley Tournament.
The women's cross country team finished sixth last season under eighth-year Head Coach Brian Delsite and Head Distance Coach Ron LeVan. The Red & Blue will rely on the consistent performances of juniors Jenna Daggett, Samantha Howard and Amy Ruffolo to take the Dukes to the next level. Howard placed first for the Dukes in six of the squads eight meets last year while Ruffolo took home All-Conference honors as a freshman placing 10th at the 2004 A-10 Championship. Duquesne opens the 2006 slate Sept. 2 hosting the Duquesne Duals at Schenley Park.
Fourth-year Head Coach James Walker led his women's soccer team to the program's first 10-win season and Atlantic 10 Championship berth last season posting a 10-6-1 record. They went 5-4-0 in league play finishing in a tie for sixth in the league standings. The Dukes return seven starters led by 2005 All-Conference picks Emily Sedgwick, Audra Mathews and Shannon Rengers. Mathews led the Dukes in points (18) and assists (8) last season while Sedgwick helped lead the Dukes' defense with recorded five shutouts. Rengers tied the team-lead with seven goals last season and was third with 16 points. Their season commences Aug. 25 at Vermont and Aug. 26 vs. Northeastern.
Head Coach Steve Opperman led the volleyball team to a 15-13 record last year paced by three All-Conference selections, which includes junior honorable mention pick setter Kristin Garnett. Senior outside hitter Amanda Haeg will guide the attack once again after posting a team-best 3.43 kills per game last season. In all, five starters return for the Red & Blue in Garnett, Haeg, junior outside hitters Dana McLaughlin and Lindsay Hess and sophomore middle hitter Mandy Humphrey. The Dukes ranked second among Atlantic 10 leaders last season posting 16.95 digs and 2.56 blocks per game. Duquesne begin play Aug. 25-26 at the JMU Invitational.
