Men's Volleyball Picked Third in NEAC Preseason Poll
The Wells College men's volleyball team was picked third by North Eastern Athletic Conference coaches in the 2018 NEAC Men's Volleyball Preseason Poll. The 2018 Express roster includes nine returning players from last year's team that advanced to the NEAC championship game.
Wells enters the 2018 season with high expectations and a veteran roster that features three returning all-conference players. Senior Brannon Perdicho was selected to the NEAC First Team as a junior in 2017 and it was the third year in a row that he earned all-conference honors. Sophomore Caden O'Loughlin was a NEAC Second Team selection in 2017 and Ryan Turner was voted to the NEAC Third Team last year.
In 2017, The Express finished the year with a 19-13 overall record. With 19 victories, Wells set a program record for most wins in a season. Five of the 13 defeats came against teams that are were nationally-ranked. The NEAC semifinal victory over Lancaster Bible College was another milestone, as Wells won a postseason match for the first time in program history.
In the 2018 preseason poll, Wells placed third with 48 points. Penn State Altoona was first and earned six first-place votes. Lancaster Bible College was second with three first-place votes and 55 total points. The top-six teams in the NEAC standings will qualify for the conference tournament, and the winner of the NEAC championship will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The preseason poll rankings were conducted by the NEAC men's volleyball coaches, with each coach ranking all teams but their own using a staggered points system.
Wells begins its season Jan. 19 at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute season-opening tournament. Wells faces Vassar and Wentworth on the opening day of matches and takes on Johnson & Wales and Elms on the second day of play.
2018 Men's Volleyball Schedule
2018 NEAC Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Penn State Altoona (6), 62 points
2. Lancaster Bible (3), 55 points
3. WELLS COLLEGE, 48 points
4. Medaille College, 43 points
5. SUNY Poly, 39 points
6. Keuka College, 32 points
7. D'Youville College, 19 points
8. Wilson College, 18 points
9. College of Saint Elizabeth, 8 points