BOSTON — The back-to-back America East champions are favored to take home the crown once again as the New Hampshire Wildcats were selected first in the 2015 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Monday. The poll was determined by a vote by the league's seven head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own team.
The Wildcats received five first place votes to total 35 points and edge out Albany as the preseason favorite. The Great Danes finished with 31 points and two first place votes to finish second. Stony Brook followed with 24 points with UMBC taking fourth with 23 points. Binghamton (17 points), Hartford (11 points) and UMass Lowell (6 points) rounded out the poll.
The 2015 volleyball season begins on Friday, August 28. Here is the full poll:
2015 Preseason Poll (1st-place votes)
1. New Hampshire (5), 35 points
2. Albany (2), 31
3. Stony Brook, 24
4. UMBC, 23
5. Binghamton, 17
6. Hartford, 11
7. UMass Lowell, 6
Preview each of the teams below --
1. New Hampshire Wildcats
2014 record: 20-12, 11-1, AE Champion (1st)
- After winning back-to-back America East titles, the UNH Wildcats are the favorite to win once again.
- UNH led the conference in hitting percentage, assists and kills last season.
- First-Team All-Conference selection, Tori Forrest, returns for the Wildcats. She led the team with 2.96 kills per set last year.
2. Albany Great Danes
2014 record: 9-19, 7-5, Runner-up (T-2nd)
- The Albany Great Danes are looking to return to glory for the first time since 2011. The Great Danes have failed to win a title in each of the last three years after winning six titles in eight years from 2004-11.
- Albany brings back First Team All-Conference pick, Laini Leindecker, and second team selection, Amanda Dolan.
- The Great Danes have traditionally been stellar defensively, leading the conference with a .178 opponent hitting percentage.
3. Stony Brook Seawolves
2014 record: 17-15, 7-5, AE Semifinals (T-2nd)
- Stony Brook finished over the .500 mark for the first time since 2011 last year and tied for second in the conference standings.
- Seniors Kathy Fletcher and Nicole Vogel return to lead the Seawolves. Both were All-Conference Second Team selections a year ago.
4. UMBC Retrievers
2014 record: 10-15, 4-8, DNQ (6th)
- UMBC is on a mission in 2015 after missing the America East tournament field for the first time since 2009 last year.
- Second Team All-Conference selection, Sherelle Walker, led the attack in 2014, finishing third in the conference with a .278 hitting percentage.
- The future is bright for the Retrievers who had two All-Rookie selections in Paola Rojas and Marissa Duncan.
5. Binghamton Bearcats
2014 record: 9-20, 7-5, AE Semifinals, (T-2nd)
- After going 2-15 in the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Bearcats went 7-5 in conference play in 2014 to reach the America East semifinals for the second time in three years.
- Binghamton returns 2014 America East Rookie of the Year, Alexis LaGoy, who led the league in hitting percentage at .294.
6. Hartford Hawks
2014 record: 17-13, 5-7, DNQ (5th)
- First-year head coach Mitch Kallick looks to lead Hartford to its first America East tournament appearance since 1996.
- Sophomore Katy Henchy was an All-Rookie selection in 2014 after ranking second on the team in kills and first in blocks
7. UMass Lowell River Hawks
2014 record: 4-29, 1-11, DNQ (7th)
- UMass Lowell had a four-win improvement in 2014, earning their first-ever Division I victories under first-year head coach Resa Provanzano.
- The River Hawks have a young team with six freshmen and only one senior entering the season.