Volleyball Picked Third in NEC Poll
The Central Connecticut volleyball team was selected third in the NEC preseason poll.
The Central Connecticut women's volleyball team was picked to finish third in the Northeast Conference's annual preseason poll. The Blue Devils received a pair of first place votes, with defending champion and preseason favorite LIU Brooklyn receiving the other six first place votes.
Between LIU and CCSU, in the second spot, was Robert Morris. Sacred Heart was selected fourth followed by Bryant and Saint Francis U. Fairleigh Dickinson and St. Francis Brooklyn filled out the final two spots of the poll.
LIU and CCSU were the only teams to garner first place votes in the poll.
The Blue Devils will be a strong contender with the return of 2012 NEC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-NEC honoree Makenna Lommori. Last season, Lommori ranked fourth on the circuit with 9.01 assists per set.
Also returning is junior libero Brittany Schumacher who earned Second Team All-NEC honors last season. Senior Veronika Ban and junior Rachel Dunlap will are also returning to CCSU's rotation after posting strong first seasons as transfers in 2012.
The 2013 season will be head coach Linda Sagnelli's 14th at the helm of the Blue Devil program. Last season, Sagnelli's squad qualified for the NEC Tournament for the 10th consecutive season and reached the championship match for the first time since 2003.
The Blue Devils open the season with the Colgate Classic on August 30-31. The first home match will come on September 20 on the opening day of the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational.