RIPON, Wis. - The Red Hawks failed to finish among the top three in the MWC North a year ago for just the third time in head coach Kelly Witte's 10-year tenure, but they are poised to rebound in 2007. Wednesday, Ripon was picked to finish seventh in the Midwest Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, as released by the conference office.

The top five teams all received first place votes. Carroll and St. Norbert finished in a tie for first, with four and three first place votes, respectively. They were followed by Lake Forest, Monmouth, Beloit, and Illinois College. After Ripon came Lawrence, Grinnell, and Knox, who rounded out the poll.

Junior middle hitter Jeni Yaeger (288 kills, 119 digs, 102 blocks) and senior middle hitter Ashley Schertz (241 kills, 91 blocks) lead a balanced attack that returns five players who recorded at least 188 kills last season. Senior Mary Friend (468 assists) was second on the team in assists last season, while sophomore libero Sara Heim recorded a team-high 633 digs.

The Red Hawk's first match of the season will come on Friday, August 31, when they'll host the Red Hawk Invitational Tournament. Ripon will square off against MSOE and Rockford College in the first day of the tourney, before playing Clarke and St. Mary's in day two action.