BOSTON – For the second consecutive year, UAlbany has been picked to win the league per the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll which was unveiled Thursday morning.
Eight points separate the top four teams in the poll with the Great Danes receiving four of a possible six first-place votes and 33 points. Reigning #AEVB champion UMBC received one first-place vote as did New Hampshire and each earned 27 points. Stony Brook, which has won two championships in the last four years, received the final first-place vote and totaled 25 points. Here is the full poll:
2021 America East Volleyball Preseason Poll
No. School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. UAlbany 33 (4)
2. UMBC 27 (1)
New Hampshire 27 (1)
4. Stony Brook 25 (1)
5. Hartford 18
6. Binghamton 9
7. NJIT 8
All but one major award winner from last season lead a youthful group of returners. Player of the Year Kamara Kelly and Defensive Specialist of the Year Charlotte Macken return for the Great Danes while Setter of the Year Aysia Miller is back for the defending champs. Four of the seven All-Rookie selections from a season ago also earned All-Conference honors.
The regular season gets underway Friday, Aug. 27 with six teams scheduled to open their 2021 campaigns. Conference play begins Friday, Sept. 24 as each team embarks on the double round robin slate. Full schedule
The top four teams in the standings will qualify for the #AEVB Championship. The regular-season champion will host the tournament beginning with semifinals on Nov. 19/20.
Fans will once again be able to watch the majority of #AEVB this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the brand new America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.
Follow the @AEDigitalNet Twitter account to stay up-to-date on America East volleyball news all season long and use #AEVB to join the conversation.
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