Colonel Volleyball tabbed fourth in OVC; Rojas, Knutson Voted To 2018 Preseason All-OVC Team

Aug 14, 2018 | Volleyball

 2018 Preseason All-OVC

 2018 Preseason All-OVC

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University volleyball seniors Chloe Rojas and Cassie Knutson have been named to the preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Team, as voted on by the league head coaches and sports information directors, the conference announced today.

Rojas joined former Colonel standouts Brittany Nobilio (2004, 05, 07) and Dena Ott (2014) last season in being named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year. She saw action in all 126 sets last season for Head Coach Lori Duncan. The senior logged a team-best 560 digs.

The St. Charles, Illinois native racked up 20 or more digs in a match 11 times during the 2017 season with two 30-dig outings.

Knutson showed her versatility last season in hitting and setting in lieu of injuries that plagued the Colonels. The San Diego, California native logged eight double-doubles and four triple-doubles. As only a part-time setter the senior racked up 25 or more assists six times in 2017, setting her season-high at 32.

Colonels picked fourth in OVC

The Colonels were predicted to finish fourth, collecting 175 points. Murray State, Austin Peay and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville were chosen to finish in the top three, respectively. Belmont was picked behind Eastern with 152 points. Morehead State, Jacksonville State, Eastern Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State, the University of Tennessee at Martin and Tennessee Tech rounded out the 12 league teams.

The 2018 season will open on August 24-25 at the Penn State Invitational in State College, Pennsylvania. The Colonels will face national volleyball powerhouse Penn State on Friday, followed by a doubleheader with the United States Naval Academy and the University of Maryland Baltimore County on Saturday. The Colonels will play their first home game on Sept. 21 at 6 P.M. against Tennessee Tech University.

2018 Volleyball Preseason All-OVC Team

(voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors)

Kirsten Stucker, Austin Peay
Taylor Smith, Eastern Illinois
Chloe Rojas, Eastern Kentucky
Rachel Giustino, Murray State
Rachel Holthaus, Murray State
Katirah Johnson, Murray State
Cassie Knutson, Eastern Kentucky
Brooke Moore, Austin Peay
Lauren Rokey, Morehead State
Kirsten Brugere, Tennessee Tech
Alexa Nichols, Belmont
MacKenzie Rombach, Jacksonville State
Rachel Henderson, Tennessee State
Sami Knight, SIUE

2018 OVC Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish

(voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors)

Murray State (10) – 230
Austin Peay (14) – 227
SIUE – 193
Eastern Kentucky – 175
Belmont – 152
Morehead State – 129
Jacksonville State – 125
Eastern Illinois – 112
Southeast Missouri – 95
Tennessee State – 58
UT Martin – 56
Tennessee Tech – 32

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