GREENWOOD, Ind.—The Defiance College Volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2007 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Poll. The Yellow Jackets finished just behind Anderson and Franklin with 44 points, while defending HCAC champ Mount St. Joseph and Hanover swept the top two spots.

Defiance finished in a tie for sixth in the HCAC last season after posting a 3-5 mark in the conference and a 9-20 record overall. The Yellow Jackets won four-set match over Bluffton in the regular season finale to clinch a spot in the conference tournament. DC returns several key players from a year ago, three of which were placed on the HCAC Player to Watch list.

Defiance’s lone senior Brittany Cooley (Toledo, Ohio/Cardinal Stritch) returns after recording 318 assists last season, including averaging 20.5 per game over her last 11 contests. Outside hitters Lauren Aldridge (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) and Danyel Lipps (West Alexandria, Ohio/Twin Valley South) return after playing important roles on last year’s squad.

Aldridge, a junior, finished the 2006 season with a career-high 233 kills, including recording eight or more in 18 matches. Lipps returns as one of DC’s best all-around player after finishing her rookie campaign a year ago with 273 kills, 305 digs, and 52 total blocks. Freshman Sara Porter (Toledo, Ohio/Start), a two-time All-Toledo performer at outside hitter, will also look to make an impact for the Jackets this season.

Defiance will open the 2007 season on the road where it will travel to Springfield, Ohio for the Wittenberg Tournament on Friday, August 31. The Jackets will open their home schedule on September 7 and 8 when they host the DC Invite.

Click here to read the complete HCAC release.