UALBANY VOLLEYBALL PREDICTED TO FINISH FIRST IN AE PRESEASON POLL

The defending America East regular-season champion UAlbany volleyball team is predicted to finish first in the America East in 2018 in the preseason coaches poll, released on Thursday.

The preseason poll is voted on by the league’s head coaches. UAlbany earned 32 points, including three first-place votes.

UAlbany earned the league’s regular season title in 2017, winning its final 10 America East matches to finish 11-1 in the conference and 11-15 overall. The Great Danes played in their first postseason since 2011 with a berth into the National Invitational Volleyball Classic (NIVC).

Head coach MJ Engstrom returns for her 11th season at the helm of UAlbany, bringing back three all-conference players: senior libero Nicole Otero earned her second America East Defensive Specialist of the Year honor, being joined on the All-Conference First Team by redshirt junior hitter Akuabata Okenwa, along with junior setter Kelly Cameron being All-Conference Second Team.

UAlbany begins the season at Ohio State on Friday, August 24th at 7 p.m.

New Hampshire and defending conference champion Stony Brook each had two first-place votes, getting 31 and 29 points respectively.

The rest of the poll is filled out by Binghamton (22 points), UMBC (15), Hartford (10) and UMass Lowell (8).

2018 America East Volleyball Preseason Poll

No.School (First-Place Votes)Point

Points

1 UAlbany (3) 32

2 New Hampshire (2) . 31

3 Stony Brook. 29

4 Binghamton . 22

5 UMBC . 15

6 Hartford . 10