BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team has been selected seventh in the East Division of the 2007 Gulf South Conference Pre-Season Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the conference office Thursday.

UWA garnered 10 points in the poll, just three points behind Montevallo and four points back of UAH. North Alabama was selected as the early favorite in the division and the conference, claiming 32 points, one ahead of West Florida in second. West Georgia stands in third with 29 points, as Valdosta State is in fourth with 18 points.

The GSC also announced its Pre-Season All-GSC Team, as Guiliana DeFrancesco and Allison Nail represented UWA on the list.

DeFrancesco, a native of Sao Paolo, Brazil, is a first time selection to the pre-season team in just her second year with the Tigers. The sophomore setter led the team with 1,208 assists and was ranked among the leaders in the GSC.

Nail, a Cullman, Ala. native, was a 2006 Second Team All-GSC selection. The junior outside hitter led UWA in kills with 402, which ranked among the leaders in the conference.

Two Tiger newcomers were also recognized by the conference. Gabi Pedrosa, an outside hitter from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and Whitney Jones, a middle blocker from Robertsdale, Ala., were listed among the 2007 Top Newcomers in the conference.

West Alabama opens its season on Friday, August 24^th, at 1:00 p.m., as the Tigers play Clark Atlanta in the Jaguar Classic at Augusta State University.