University of New Hampshire is the preseason favorite to win the volleyball conference title this year, according to a vote of the head coaches. The Wildcats received four of a possible seven first-place votes and 46 points overall to edge defending America East champion Northeastern University, which had three first-place votes and 44 points. University of Maine was third with 35 votes. Stony Brook University followed with 27 points, with University at Albany (18), America East newcomer Binghamton University (14), and Univeristy of Hartford (12) rounding out the poll.
Complete Poll
The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
The Wildcats (11-3 in America East, 18-9 overall) advanced to the conference championship for the fifth straight year last season, falling in the semifinals to eventual America East Champion Northeastern. New Hampshire, who reinstated the volleyball program in 1995 after an eleven year hiatus, won the conference title and competed in the NCAA Championships in 1998 and has competed in every conference tournament since 1997.
Head Coach Jill Hirschinger, the 1997 and 1998 America East Coach of the Year, returns 10 letterwinners to a team that has posted an 11-3 mark in conference play. Hirschinger replaces four letterwinners, including all-conference selection Bonnie Wilson, but returns a solid core of players, led by junior outside hitter Alyson Coler, who averaged 4.4 kills and 2.73 digs per game to garner all-conference honors. Also back for the Wildcats is senior co-captain Lauren Knight, who received all-conference honorable mention honors last season, and juniors Erin Ludwig (7.23 assists per game) and Natasha Otte (second in the conference with 1.17 blocks per game).
Northeastern (11-3, 23-11) advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history last season, winning the America East Championship as the second seed after an impressive regular season. Head Coach Ken Nichols returns the America East Setter of the Year and tournament Most Outstanding Player in junior Kristin Ursillo, who posted averages of 11.7 assists and .47 service aces a game. Also back for the Huskies are seniors Erin Spangler (two-time all-conference, 1.03 blocks per game) and Lindsay Wagner (2.90 digs per game). Notable losses from last year's squad are three-time all-conference pick Kristin Deatherage and all-conference selection Gianina Pellegrini.
Maine (9-5, 17-12) advanced to the America East finals last season in just the Black Bears' third season since reintstating volleyball in 1999, upsetting top-seeded Towson in the process. Lost from Head Coach Sue Medley's squad is America East Player of the Year Leah Voss, but Maine returns two all-conference selections in junior Cheryl Elliot and sophomore Carmen Gabriel. The Black Bears may experience some growing pains this season, as eight of the 12 players on the roster are underclassmen.
Third-year Head Coach Deborah Matejka leads Stony Brook (4-10, 11-20) into its second season of America East play. Gone is all-conference honoree Debra Falkenberg, but the Seawolves return all-rookie selection Valerie Maloy. Stony Brook also returns sophomores Julie Zub (9.38 assists per game) and Danielle MacKnight (1.09 blocks per game), while adding three newcomers, as the Seawolves look to rise up the confernce standings in 2002.
Albany (1-13, 4-20) stuggled at times during the Great Danes' inagural year in the conference, but Head Coach Kelly Sheffield brought seven new players to the team, and looks to center the attack around all-conference selection Allisa Gibbs (5.01 kills per game). Gibbs, a senior, is the only returning upper classmen for the Great Danes.
Binghamton (Independent, 11-12) joins America East as the Bearcats continue their transition to Division I. Head Coach Glenn Kiriyama looks to be competitive in the conference this season.
Hartford (3-11, 7-17) looks to find stability behind rookie Head Coach Maria Stutzman y Marquez. The Hawks return all six starters, led by America East Rookie of the Year Stephanie Volckers, who led the conference with 5.60 kills per game.