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GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team was selected to finish seventh this season in the Atlantic Coast Conference while senior Victoria Hamsher was named to the preseason team, as voted on by the league’s coaches and announced Monday by the conference office.

Tech finished last season with a 16-14 mark while going 9-11 in conference play. The Hokies return four starters from last season’s team, including middle block/right side Kathryn Caine, setter Jordan Fish, outside hitter Samantha Gostling and middle blocker Hamsher. Tech lost 1,000 kill club members Cara Baarendse and Jennifer Wiker as well as libero Morgan O’Neill who ranks fifth on Tech’s all-time digs list. Virginia Tech added six newcomers to the 2013 roster.

Hamsher was tabbed to the preseason All-ACC team after leading the Hokies last year in blocks. She also recorded one of the best hitting percentages in the conference, knocking down .351 with 236 kills on 464 attempts with just 73 errors.

Florida State was selected to win the league, claiming all 14 first place votes. The Seminoles were followed by North Carolina in second and Miami in third. Notre Dame and NC State rounded out the top-five. Duke was selected to finish sixth while Clemson was picked just behind the Hokies in eighth. In ninth place is Georgia Tech, followed by Maryland in 10th. Rounding out the standings are Virginia (11th), Syracuse (12th), Pitt (13th), Boston College (14th) and Wake Forest (15th).

The 2013 season gets under way on Friday, August 30, with 14 of the conference’s teams in action. Virginia Tech opens the season Friday at home against Towson at 12:30 p.m. The 2013 ACC volleyball champion will be determined by the final regular season standings, with that team receiving an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship.

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).