Pirate Volleyball team prepares for 2010 season

The AASU volleyball team is eyeing their third straight NCAA Championship Tournament berth, along with returning to the top of the Peach Belt Conference.

"Our expectations for this year are pretty much the same as every year," said head coach Will Condon. "We want to win the Peach Belt Conference, win the Peach Belt Tournament, be selected to the NCAA tournament and make the regional final.

"I thought our preseason went well. The players worked hard; they did a great job of staying focused on getting prepared for the season. It was long from the time we started practicing until we can start playing."

Condon is 54-18 in his two seasons at the helm of the team, leading the squad to two straight NCAA tournament berths as well as the program's first-ever Elite Eight berth. In Condon's first year in Savannah, he was named the 2008 Co-coach of the Year in the Peach Belt.

The toughest task for the Pirates is replacing to the German twins Kristin and Kathrin Standhardinger, who both earned all-PBC and all-region honors in 2009.

Junior outside hitter Torrie Bevolo looks to relive her freshman year from which she earned AVCA all-region honors.

"We're looking forward to having a great season this year," she said. "We have depth in every position and not only have awesome returners, but we have some very talented freshmen as well. I'm excited to see what our team can accomplish."

The voting for first and second place in the conference preseason coaches' poll between AASU and Flagler is tight, with the Royals coming out on top.