SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna University volleyball team has been picked to finish third in the Commonwealth Conference during the upcoming season, according to the league's eight head coaches.

The Crusaders finished fourth in the league last season with a 15-13 overall record and a 4-3 conference mark under head coach John Tom , who begins his second season with all six starters back from last season's squad.

Leading the way for Susquehanna will be senior middle hitter Kerri Eshleman , a three-time first-team All-Conference selection who holds program career records for kills (1,203) and blocks (452), and senior outside hitter Marissa Gaulton , who ranks seventh in program history with 582 career kills.

Perennial national powerhouse Juniata received all but one first-place vote to easily capture the top spot in the poll in its search for a 24 th straight conference championship, followed by Lebanon Valley, Susquehanna, Moravian, Messiah, Widener, Elizabethtown and Albright.

The top four teams in the standings will compete in the conference playoffs for the league title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball tournament.

The Crusaders open the 2004 season on Friday, September 3 at the two-day Moravian Tournament, begin home play with a quad meet on Saturday, September 11, and start their Commonwealth Conference schedule on Saturday, September 14 against visiting Moravian.