FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9-6-01

AASU Hosts 2001 Chatham Orthopaedics Pirate VB Classic This Weekend

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State volleyball squad welcomes four other teams, including the No. 4-ranked team in the nation, to Savannah for the 2001 AASU/Chatham Orthopaedics Pirate Volleyball Classic on Friday, September 7 and Saturday, September 8 at the Aquatics and Recreation Center on campus.

The Pirates, 7-2 on the young season and receiving votes in this week's AVCA Division II Top 25 poll, are led by junior setter Erin Melius and junior outside hitter Sofie Hakansson. Melius, who recently broke the all-time assist record at AASU, is coming off of an all-tournament performance at the Texas Woman's Labor Day Classic and is averaging 10.90 assists per game. Hakansson leads the Pirates in kills with 114 and is hitting a team-best .352.

No. 4-ranked North Alabama comes into the tournament with a 3-1 mark and is just one week removed from being the top-ranked team in the nation. Led by second-team All-America outside hitter Nesrin Seckin and South Central Region Freshman of the Year Ashley Moffitt, the Lions are looking for a return trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2001.

Florida Southern College is just 2-5 on the season, but advanced to the NCAA South Region last year after a similar 3-10 start. Sophomore setter Mindy Miltner and sophomore middle hitter Jenni Holste lead the Mocs' attack in 2001. Saint Leo University is off to a 7-1 start behind junior middle hitter Tina Florea and is looking to break the school record in wins, 20, which it tied last season. Francis Marion University, representing the Peach Belt Conference along with AASU, rounds out the field, coming into this weekend's tournament with a 5-4 record.

Tournament action begins on Friday afternoon with North Alabama taking on Saint Leo at 4:30 p.m., then the host Pirates face Florida Southern at 7:00 p.m. The tournament concludes with five matches on Saturday, highlighted by the Pirates facing Saint Leo at 2:00 p.m. and AASU clashing with No. 4-ranked North Alabama at 6:30 p.m. in the conclusion of the tournament.

Admission to both days of tournament action is free to the public.

- Pirates -