Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany has been chosen to finish second in the America East Conference Preseason Volleyball Poll, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. The Great Danes, who captured the conference's regular-season title last season, earned one first-place vote and 31 total points to finish just behind defending champion Binghamton in the poll.
Binghamton took home five first-place votes for 33 total points. UMBC claimed the final first-place vote to finish third behind the Great Danes with 24 points. New Hampshire (22 points) and Stony Brook (20 points) followed, while Hartford (11 points) and first-year associate member Providence (six points) round out the seven-team poll.
UAlbany, which has won four of the last six conference post-season tournaments, finished the 2009 season with its second straight undefeated conference regular season, and earned the right to host the America East Championship for the second consecutive year. Senior setter Brooke Stanley was named the America East player and setter of the year, while junior libero Laurie Gonzalez took home co-defensive specialist of the year honors. Gonzalez, who competed for the U.S. National A2 Team during the offseason, led the league, averaging 4.89 digs per set, while Stanley topped the conference standings with 10.66 assists per set. Senior Teresa Coppiellie, a first-team all-conference selection a year ago, is the Great Danes' top returning offensive threat after averaging 2.83 kills per set.
Head coach MJ Engstrom, who earned the conference's coach of the year award last season, will lead the Great Danes into the 2010 season, beginning at Clemson's Big Orange Bash on Aug. 27-28.
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2010 America East Conference Preseason Volleyball Poll
1. Binghamton (5), 33 points
2. UAlbany (1), 31 points
3. UMBC (1), 24 points
4. New Hampshire, 22 points
5. Stony Brook, 20 points
6. Hartford, 11 points
7. Providence, 6 points
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information
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