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

The Crusaders finished 21-11 overall in 2004 and third in the conference with a 5-2 league mark, and advanced to the Commonwealth Conference finals before falling to eventual national champion Juniata, which won its 24 th straight conference championship.

Head coach John Tom enters his third season with seven letterwinners returning from last year's team, led by junior Missy Kadingo who averaged 2.92 kills per game and led the team with 70 aces in 115 games (0.61 per game).

Juniata, ranked second in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll, earned the top spot in the league poll followed by Elizabethtown, Lebanon Valley, Susquehanna, Widener, Moravian, Messiah 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 2005 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Haverford Tournament, begin their home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 10 against Wilkes and kick off Commonwealth Conference play on Tues., Sept. 13 against Albright in O.W. Houts Gymnasium.