VOLLEYBALL SELECTED TO FINISH SECOND IN AE PRESEASON POLL

BOSTON - The University at Albany volleyball program has been selected second in the preseason America East coaches’ poll, the conference announced Thursday.

The preseason poll is voted on by the league’s head coaches. UAlbany earned 19 points and one first place vote. Ahead of the Great Danes was two-time defending conference champion Stony Brook, who received 25 points and five first place votes.

The Great Danes are coming off of a 2018 season in which they finished second, coming up short to Stony Brook in a five set thriller for the America East title.

Josh Pickard is set begin his first season as head coach of the team, which includes 13 returners and six newcomers. The returners are highlighted by 2018 Rookie of the Year setter Andersen Vaughan and All-Conference Second Team honorees senior Chloe Evering, and redshirt senior Akuabata Okenwa.

Rounding out the rest of the poll was Hartford in third with 15 points, New Hampshire in fourth with 14 points, UMBC in fifth with 12 points and Binghamton in sixth with five points.

UAlbany is slated to begin the season when the team travels to the Omaha Challenge on Friday, August 30 and Saturday, August 31. In the tournament, the team will face Idaho State, Abilene Christian, and Omaha.