BOSTON— The University of New Hampshire and Northeastern University were picked as preseason favorites to win the America East volleyball championship this season. Each team received three first-place votes and 44 points overall. Towson University picked up the other two top votes with 41 total points. Balloting was conducted by the conference head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their teams.
University of Maine was chosen fourth with 30 points followed by America East newcomer Stony Brook University (21 points) and Drexel University (20). University of Hartford (16) and University at Albany (7) rounded out the voting.
The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA championship. The conference championship will be held Nov. 17-18 at the site of the No. 1 seed.
The 2001 America East head coach of the year, Ken Nichols has seven returning letterwinners from last season's Northeastern team that went 12-4 in the conference and 19-16 overall. He also welcomes the return of Adrianna DiGregorio, Jasmine Mullings and Gianina Pellegrini. All three will be seniors this year after missing the 2000 season for various reasons.
After graduating six seniors last spring, New Hampshire (13-3 America East, 23-11 overall) will look to its underclassmen to lead the Wildcats to the top of the America East. With no seniors on this year's squad, the team will feature junior captains Lauren Knight and Sasha Scott along with 2000 America East Rookie of the Year Alyson Coler. Coler's .279 hitting percentage was second in the conference.
Towson, 11-5 in America East play and 15-18 overall, has made considerable strides in its program. Under first-year head coach Chris Riley, the Tigers won 11 of their final 17 matches last year after dropping 12 of their first 16. The team will be led by senior setter Andrea LaBlanc, a three-year starter who averaged 10.87 assists per game last season, third in the league.
Maine improved to 12-18 overall last year after going 0-21 in 1999 without the benefits of scholarships in the Black Bears' first season as a varsity sport in 16 years. The Black Bears return sophomore setter Cheryl Elliott who averaged 10.58 assists per game, fourth overall in league, and ranked second in the conference in serving, recording 50 service aces (0.48 per game). She will be joined by a talented group of newcomers assembled by head coach Sue Medley.
Stony Brook head coach Deb Matejka brings her first recruiting class to the floor this year to add depth to a team that returns four of six starters from last season including standout seniors Susanne Westing and Debra Falkenberg. The Seawolves finished 16-12 overall last season.
Defense and a deep roster that gives them a variety of options will be strengths for Drexel. The Dragons were 4-12 in the conference and 9-26 overall last season.
Hartford will be challenged to find depth with a limited preseason roster after the resignation of head coach Alex Ha late this summer. The Hawks finished eighth in the conference last season with a 3-13 mark and a 7-19 overall record.
Albany will look to improve on a 3-24 record in 2000. The Great Danes will be led by Kelly Sheffield who took over the head coaching duties this summer as the program's first full-time head coach.
2001 Preseason Poll
1. New Hampshire (3 first-place votes), 44 total votes
(tie) Northeastern (3), 44
3. Towson (2), 41
4. Maine , 30
5. Stony Brook, 21
6. Drexel, 20
7. Hartford, 16
8. Albany, 7