Regis Predicted to Finish Fifth in RMAC East Division; Jessica Howe Named to Preseason All-RMAC Team

Colorado Springs, Colo.: The Regis Ranger volleyball team is picked to finish fifth in the RMAC East Division and sixth overall by the 14 head coaches.  Senior outside hitter Jessica Howe was tabbed as an RMAC Preseason All-Conference member also voted on by the RMAC head coaches.

Nebraska-Kearney, who has won or shared the last six RMAC regular season championships, are picked to repeat once again.  RMAC Tournament Champions Metro State is just one point behind UNK in second place, while Colorado Mines is picked third overall and third in the east.  Metro State is picked seventh in the AVCA Preseason Poll while Nebraska-Kearney is ranked 10th.

Regis sits behind UC-Colorado Springs who was picked fourth in the east and fifth overall.  Mesa State is selected to win the West Division.

Regis finished last season with a 14-14 record and earned the sixth seed at the RMAC Tournament, falling to eventual tournament champion Metro State in three sets.  Regis compiled a 12-7 RMAC record a year after winning the RMAC Tournament Championship and securing a berth to the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Howe, an outside hitter from Pueblo, Colo., received second team accolades for the second straight season last season.  She was fourth in the RMAC averaging 3.58 kills per set and 3.98 points per set.  In 2009, she had 20 double figure kill matches and 49 for her career.  Howe also had four matches of 20-or-more kills for a total of nine for her career.  Howe was a Third Team AVCA All-American in 2008 after leading the Rangers to the RMAC Tournament Championship.  Howe set her career high this season with 26 kills against Western State on October 15th.

Regis is currently in Europe travelling around Denmark and Sweden in preparation for the regular season.  The Rangers first competition comes on September 3rd and 4th as they play in the Mines Oredigger Classic taking on two NSIC opponents on Friday in Minnesota State Moorhead and Southwest Minnesota State.

2010 RMAC Volleyball Preseason Poll & Awards

East Division                                                 ‘09 RMAC     ‘09 Overall

D  O  School (1st Place Votes)    Points          Record           Record

1. (1)  Nebraska-Kearney (7)           20                19-0                 33-3

2. (2)  Metro State (7)                      21                14-5                 26-8

3. (3)  Colorado Mines                     49                13-6                22-10

4. (5)  UC-Colorado Springs             58                13-6                18-10

5. (6)  Regis                                   69                12-7              14-14

6. (12) Chadron State                     145               5-14                 5-21

7. (13) Colorado Christian               158               1-18                 5-28

West Division                                                          

D  O  School (1st Pl. Votes)         Points          Record               Record

1. (4) Mesa State                                55                16-3                19-11

2. (7) Western New Mexico                 90                10-9                12-16

3. (8) Adams State                              98                11-8                14-14

4. (9) Western State                           106               7-12                 7-20

5. (10) Fort Lewis                                114               8-11                10-17

6. (11) CSU-Pueblo                              126               4-15                 8-22

7. (14) N.M. Highlands                         156               0-19                 1-28

Coaches ranked teams 1-13 (can’t vote for your own team). D stands for division, O for Overall ranking.