BOSTON ? For the second-straight season, University at Albany is the preseason favorite to win the 2006 America East Volleyball Championship, according to a vote of the conference's head coaches. The Great Danes received five first-place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team) and 35 points overall, ahead of defending champion Binghamton University (32 points), which had two first-place votes to its credit, and Stony Brook University (21).
Complete Poll
UMBC (18) and University of New Hampshire (18) were tied for the fourth spot, while University of Maine (17) and University of Hartford (6) round out the seven-team poll.
The top four teams in the league will advance to the America East Championship with the winner of the tournament receiving the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Great Danes (11-1 America East, 28-4 overall in 2005) won their second-consecutive America East regular-season crown in 2005 before being upset in the semifinals of the 2005 America East Championship by Stony Brook. Albany's 28-4 overall record marked the most wins in the program's division I history and a trio of all-conference players return from that squad for the 2006 campaign. Head coach Kelly Sheffield welcomes back the two-time defending America East Player of the Year and Setter of the Year Blair Buchanan. Other key returners for Albany are 2005 America East Defensive Specialist of the Year Ashley DeNeal and first-team all-conference hitter Shelby Goldman.
Binghamton (10-2, 20-12) is coming of an historic season which saw the Bearcats record the most wins in school history (20) and earn their first-ever America East Championship and subsequent berth to the NCAA Tournament. The reigning America East Coach of the Year, Glenn Kiriyama, returns 11 of 13 letterwinners from a season ago, including five of six starters and his squads top libero. Binghamton will be led by Jacki Kane, a 2005 first-team all-conference selection, along with Megan Hoag and Ashley Meffert.
In 2005, the Seawolves (5-7, 12-18) were just one win shy of their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance as Stony Brook upset defending champion Albany in the semifinals of the league tournament before falling to eventual champion Binghamton in the title match. Head Coach Deb Matejka-DesLauriers looks to combine her six returning student-athletes, including three starters from last season's squad, with seven newcomers to formulate a solid blend of youth and experience.
Second-year head coach Ian Blanchard welcomes back 13 letterwinners and four starters from his 2005 UMBC (4-8, 11-18) squad that showed signs of improvement. The Retrievers improved play can be attributed directly to the 2005 America East Rookie of the Year Sarah Ball. The 6-1 outside hitter ranked third in America East in kills per game (3.81) and points per game (4.45).
After two disappointing seasons, New Hampshire (4-8, 7-20) 11th-year head coach Jill Hirschinger looks to return her squad to the top of America East. Hirschinger has posted 589 career coaching victories and needs only 11 wins to become the 14th active coach to accomplish the 600-win plateau. She will look to a trio of outside hitters ? senior Sarah Rehn and sophomores Toni Barnas and Emmy Blouin ? to lead her Wildcats back to prominence.
Maine (8-4, 11-13) is coming off a solid 2005 campaign which saw the Black Bears earn back-to-back berths to the conference championship for the first time in program history. Third-year head coach Lynn Atherley returns 10 letterwinners, including four starters, from a season ago and first-team all-conference selection Shelly Seipp will run the Black Bears offense.
Second-year head coach Don Ferguson looks to build upon his inaugural season at the helm of Hartford (0-12, 8-22). The Hawks welcome back seven letterwinners, including three starters, from last season's squad. Junior outside hitter Jennifer Monroy is Hartford's leading returning as she averaged 3.68 kills per game and 2.79 digs per game in 2005.