EAST STROUDSBURG - The East Stroudsburg University women's volleyball team has been picked to win the PSAC East in the annual coaches poll, the conference announced Wednesday.

The Warriors placed second in the East last fall with an 8-2 record and return two starters in setter Liz Johnson and second team All-PSAC selection Caitlin Kuhn, a middle blocker.

The rest of offensive responsibilities will fall on a large and talented freshman class that comes to ESU from as far away as California, Illinois and Florida. Defensively, juniors Kim Dormer and Alyson Procopio are returning players with experience, while a pair of freshmen are also expected to contribute.

The Warriors will open the 2007 season with three tournaments, beginning this weekend in Washington, D.C. where they will play UNC Pembroke, Lees-McRae and Concordia. The following weekend, ESU will travel to Eckerd College in Florida, with the final tournament being hosted by the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

ESU will begin its PSAC schedule on Sept. 11 at West Chester. The Golden Rams were picked second in the poll, followed by defending East champion Kutztown. Lock Haven, the defending PSAC champion, was picked as the favorite in the West.