Women's volleyball picked third in preseason coaches' poll
The Wells College volleyball team has been picked third in the North Eastern Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll. Wells received one first-place vote among the ballots of the 14 conference institutions that participate in the sport.
The Express had an 18-11 overall record in 2015 and an 11-1 record in NEAC regular-season matches. Wells qualified for the NEAC playoffs and fell in the semifinal round to eventual tournament champion Gallaudet in four sets. Wells defeated Gallaudet 3-2 in a thrilling regular-season match last year. The Bison were picked first in the preseason rankings and have won six consecutive NEAC championships. SUNY Polytechnic Institute received five first-place votes and was picked second in the poll.
Wells enters the 2016 season under the direction of interim head coach Mark Lucas, who was promoted to lead the program after serving as assistant coach under Richard Gary for the last two seasons. The Express returns nine players to its varsity roster, including All-NEAC selections Anuhea Leite-Ah Yo who was NEAC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2015 and senior Meredith Kadjeski who was a First Team All-NEAC player last year.
Wells begins its season Sept. 2-3 at SUNY Cortland in the 2016 Red Dragon Invitational. The Express will face Nazareth and Utica on the tournament's opening day and Alfred and Lebanon Valley on the second day of the invitational event.
The preseason poll rankings were conducted by the NEAC women's volleyball coaches, with each coach ranking out all teams but their own using a staggered points system (13 points for a first-place vote, 12 points for second, etc.). No self-voting was allowed. | Full story at NEAC website
2016 NEAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank, School, Points
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Gallaudet University (8), 160
2. SUNY Polytechnic Institute (5), 157
3. Wells College (1), 147
4. Keuka College, 126
5. Lancaster Bible College, 119
6. Penn State Berks, 118
7. Morrisville State College, 100
8. College of Saint Elizabeth, 79
9. Bryn Athyn College, 72
10. Penn State Abington, 62
11. Cazenovia College, 48
12. SUNY Cobleskill, 47
13. Penn College, 24
14. Wilson College, 15
