Despite loss of Moss, Duke ranked high

Duke looks forward to a strong season after returning six of its seven starters.

But the loss of Rachael Moss leaves a hole at outside hitter that will be difficult for Duke to cover this year. Moss graduated in the spring with All-ACC honors, and was indisputably one of Duke’s top players last season.

Still, with junior setter Kellie Catanach and senior middle blocker Becci Burling—who is the Blue Devils’ active leader in kills, blocks and attacks—returning, Duke expects to be able to earn its preseason ACC No. 1 ranking.

“This year, I feel this team is more mature from last season and very hungry,” head coach Jolene Nagel said. “It’s exciting to see them so driven and challenging each other daily, but be so supportive of each other. This is one of the most cohesive groups I’ve had in a long time.”

In the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll released Aug. 17, the Blue Devils were predicted to vie with Florida State for the 2010 ACC Championship. Duke was the 2009 ACC runner-up with a 17-3 conference record, just behind the Seminoles’ 19-1 record.

To prepare themselves for traditional powerhouse Florida State this year, the Blue Devils will play in three challenging non-conference tournaments. They participated in the Colorado State Tournament Aug. 27-28 and will compete at the Middle Tennessee Tournament Sept. 3-4 and the Duke Invitational Tournament Sept. 10-11. Nagel specifically pointed out a match against Auburn in the Middle Tennessee Tournament as a good test for her squad.

“This team has been working hard since the end of January and had a good spring and spent the summer training as a team,” Nagel said. “The preseason has been great and very competitive.... These matches will get us prepared for our goals and the rest of the season.”

Duke travels to Tallahassee Oct. 24 for its much-anticipated matchup against Florida State. After falling 2-3 to the Seminoles twice last season, the Blue Devils will be looking for revenge in a game that might decide which squad captures the ACC title. And if the team can sustain its high level of preseason play all the way through the conference slate, Duke will no doubt give the Seminoles all they can handle.