NORCROSS, Ga. - Lee University, which is ranked third in the 2011 Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, has been picked by coaches in the Southern States Athletic Conference to win the league for the eighth consecutive year, the conference announced Wednesday.

Lee was unanimously selected to win the SSAC East and earned 10 of the 11 overall first-place votes, while Spring Hill - last year's West Division winner - claimed three of the five first-place votes in the West and finished second in the overall voting. Loyola University and Belhaven University received the other two top votes.

Shorter was picked third in the league, while the Mobile and Loyola rounded out the top five, followed by Southern Wesleyan, Faulkner and Belhaven, which received the only other first-place vote. Brenau, Brewton Parker and Emmanuel close out the poll.

Since joining the SSAC prior to the 2004 season, Lee has amassed an 82-3 record in league play, including a 10-0 mark a year ago en route to a nearly perfect season. The Flames' only loss came to eventual national runner-up Columbia (Mo.) in the semifinal match of the NAIA National Championships.

Spring Hill, which finished 7-1 in league play and 27-5 overall last year, received votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll.

2011 SSAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Overall Preseason Poll
Lee (10)
Spring Hill
Shorter
Mobile
Loyola
Southern Wesleyan
Faulkner
Belhaven (1)
Brenau
Brewton Parker
Emmanuel