Women's Volleyball Voted Fourth In NECC Preseason Poll
Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Elms College women's volleyball was selected to finish fourth in the 2017 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll, released by the conference office Monday. The Blazers received 27 total points, sitting three points back of third-place Becker College.
In her tenth season as head coach, Sheila Gisbrecht is returning seven players from the 2016 squad, who finished with a 5-20 overall record and a 2-6 mark in NECC play. Five starters are coming back in 2017, featuring Third Team All-NECC selection sophomore Hannah Adams (Deerfield, Mass.), and junior Danielle Redding (Las Vegas, N.V.), while sophomore Rachel Magnuson (Miller Place, N.Y.) returns after missing the 2016 season due to an injury. In her rookie season, Adams grabbed the fourth-most digs in a single-season (286) with 181 kills, 39 service aces, and 19 assists, while Redding ranked fifth in the NECC in kills (240) and kills per set (2.79).
The Blazers open the 2017 season with the annual Blazer Invitational at Picknelly Arena on September 1 and 2. The Blazers will welcome Albertus Magnus, SUNY-Cobleskill, and Castleton University to campus starting Friday at 3:00 p.m.
Lesley University took the top spot in the NECC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Lynx collected two first place votes and 43 total points from the conference head coaches.
Lesley earned the top spot as they return two key members from their 2016 squat, seniors Kaylee Deluga and Anni Abbruzzese both earned All-NECC First Team honors last season as they look to end their career on a high note.
The Lynx will be challenged for the top spot by Newbury College. The Nighthawks finished second in the polls by one point, while earning five of the first place votes. Newbury has four members returning from a season ago highlighted by the reigning NECC Defensive Player of the Year, Julia Leggett. The Nighthawks will have to work with out two time NECC Player of the Year, Courtney Banks who finished her career last season.
Third in the polls went to Becker College with 29 points. The Hawks will have three key returners, senior Charlene Landry, junior Kayla Dupree, and sophomore Micaela Rice, to balance out the newcomers on their squad.
Bay Path University finished with 25 points for fifth in the polls. The Wildcats made a strong playoff push in 2016 to make it to the NECC Semifinals. Bay Path returns three of their starters and hopes to build on last seasons success.
Closing out the polls in sixth place was Mitchell College who earned 23 total points, while Southern Vermont College finished in seventh with eight points.
Most NECC teams will begin their seasons with nonconference match ups on Friday, September 1st. NECC action will begin on Tuesday, October 3rdwith four league contests.
2017 New England Collegiate Conference Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Lesley - 43 (2)
2. Newbury - 42 (5)
3. Becker - 29
4. Elms - 26
5. Bay Path - 25
6. Mitchell - 23
7. Southern Vermont - 8
Source: (NECC Athletics)
ELMS VOLLEYBALL
