Volleyball Tabbed Third in NEC Preseason Coaches Poll
The Blue Devils open the season at the Stetson Invitational on August 25-26.
The Central Connecticut volleyball program collected two first-place votes and was slotted third in the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll it was announced by the league on Wednesday. The Blue Devils are coming off a season that saw them qualify for the league tournament for the 13th time in the past 14 seasons.
Central opens the season on Friday, August 25, against Florida Atlantic at the Stetson Invitational.
Head coach Linda Sagnelli has won over 400 career games and returns to lead the Blue Devils for her 18th season. CCSU is one of just two teams in the conference to return an All-NEC First Team honoree, with 2016 NEC Rookie of the Year Morgan Woycik set to begin her second season. In addition to Woycik, Central also returns senior Maddie Smith and junior Kaitlyn Kushman who each started all 27 matches last season. CCSU won its first six NEC matches en route to qualifying for the league's postseason tournament.
Defending champion LIU Brooklyn got four first-place votes and was tabbed the preseason team to beat. Sacred Heart received two first-place nods and was picked second. The top four teams in the regular-season standings qualify for the league championship to be held at the site of the highest seed on November 18-19.
