LEXINGTON, Va. -- The Washington and Lee volleyball team was picked to finish first in the 2001 ODAC Preseason Coaches Poll released Friday morning.

The Generals received 18 points, including four first-place votes. Bridgewater, the 2000 ODAC Champion, was picked to finish second. Roanoke, Lynchburg and Randolph-Macon rounded out the top-five.

Last season, W&L was 8-2 in the ODAC and finished in a five-way tie for first-place. The Generals were 20-10 overall.

Head coach Bryan Snyder will welcome back 10 letterwinners and four starters from last season's team. Leading the way is two-time ODAC Player of the Year in senior middle blocker Lindsay Ruckert. Ruckert is just 169 kills away from breaking the W&L and ODAC career record.

The Generals open their season on September 7 with a 4:00 pm match against St. Mary's (Md.) in the W&L Invitational.