NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- For the fifth straight year, the Christopher Newport University Captains were picked in the preseason coaches' poll to win the USA South Athletic Conference volleyball title in 2010. The Captains, led by head coach Lindsay Birch in her ninth year, have captured at least a share of six consecutive regular season crowns and have won seven of the past nine USA South Tournament Championships.

The three-time defending champs reached the NCAA National Quarterfinals last year in the most successful year in program history. Heading into 2010, CNU received the unanimous first place nod, earned all nine available first place votes (81 points) as head coaches can not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Averett University placed second in the poll with 69 points and the final first place vote while N.C. Wesleyan, last year's USA South Tournament runner-up, finished in third with 64 points.

The CNU schedule kicks off with a home match on Wednesday, September 1 at 7:00 pm as the Captains take on Virginia Wesleyan College to open the 2010 season.

2010 USA South Coaches Poll
Rank	Institution (1st Place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Christopher Newport (9)	81
2.	Averett (1)	69
3.	N.C. Wesleyan	64
4.	Methodist	56
5.	Meredith	44
6.	Greensboro	40
t-7.	Ferrum	34
t-7.	Peace	34
9.	Shenandoah	18
10.	Mary Baldwin	10