WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 2001 Georgetown University women's volleyball team is picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST Conference regular season, as voted by the conference's 13 head coaches. The Hoyas garnered 104 points to earn the fifth spot. Notre Dame is picked to win its third consecutive BIG EAST regular season championship. The Irish received 143 points, including 11 first-place votes. In addition, two Hoyas, senior outside hitter Yulia Vtyurina (Moscow, Russia/Moscow #1415) and junior Anna Kleinsorge (Los Altos, Calif./St. Francis) were selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.

Vtyurina, the 1998 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, has dealt with nagging injuries during the past two seasons. She played in 28 matches in 2000 and finished the season with a team-high 325 kills. She led last year's squad, as well as the BIG EAST Conference, in aces with 48 and was second on the team in digs with 249. Vtyurina was selected to both the Jefferson Cup and San Diego All-Tournament teams last year She missed 56 games during the 1999 campaign with an injury, but her solid play still earned her a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Vtyurina picked up BIG EAST Player of the Week honors twice during the 1999 season. She led the 1999 Hoyas in kill percentage (.318) and in kills per game (4.53). Vtyurina's totals for the season included 290 kills, 169 digs, 20 aces, 28 blocks and 10 assists. She registered an outstanding performance against Northern Arizona on September 3, 1999, with 35 kills. As a freshman in 1998, Vtyurina picked up BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honors six times. In addition, she was tapped for the All-BIG EAST First Team. Vtyurina recorded a triple-double vs. Connecticut on October 5, 1998, and led the team in digs for the season with 319. She was second on the squad in kills (435), hitting (.281) and blocking (76).

Kleinsorge enjoyed her best season ever in 2000, earning a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team. A key reserve, she worked hard to improve her game. The hard work paid off as Kleinsorge earned a starting postion at middle blocker for the latter part of the season. Kleinsorge played in 61 games, posting a team-high 90 blocks, including 23 solo stops, 167 kills and 30 digs. She also hit a team-high .366 for the year (167 kills with 43 errors in 339 attempts). Kleinsorge also led the BIG EAST in hitting percentage with a .422 average (124 kills with only 26 errors in 232 attempts). Kleinsorge tallied a career-best 21 kills against conference opponent Boston College on October 22. She also hit .655 for the match (21 kills with only two errors in 29 attempts). Against American on October 29, Kleinsorge notched a career-high 16 blocks, including 10 solos. Kleinsorge was named to the 1999 All-BIG EAST Rookie Team as a freshman in 1999. She played in 32 matches and led the team in blocks with 103. She also recorded 239 kills.

The Hoyas posted a 16-13 overall record in 2000 and a 6-5 mark in BIG EAST play under second-year Head Coach Liu. Highlights of the season included two tournament titles and a near-upset of then #2 ranked Long Beach State.

Georgetown opens the 2000 season at the George Mason Invitational on Friday-Saturday, August 31-September 1, in Fairfax, Va. The Hoyas take on Illinois on Friday, August 31, at 2:00 p.m., in their first match of the two-day tournament. On Saturday, September 1, GU meets William & Mary at 1:00 p.m. and then George Mason at 7:00 p.m.