Story courtesy of Christa Parulis-Kaye, NECC Assistant Commissioner of Media Relations

For Immediate Release:
September 3, 2009

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Elms College has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's volleyball championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the NECC's head women's volleyball coaches.

Eight of the nine NECC members sponsor women's volleyball.

The Elms College Blazers (10-14, 6-1 NECC) received four of the eight first-place votes in the 2009 NECC preseason poll. The Blazers are led by the 2008 NECC Coach of the Year Sheila Gisbrecht. Elms will return seven players including six starters.

Elms will be led by a trio of First Team All NECC players in senior setter/right side hitter Kim Phillips (Randolph, Mass.), sophomore outside hitter Stacy Croteau (Agawam, Mass.) and sophomore setter/outside hitter Jen Rego (Fall River, Mass.).

In a narrow race for the top three, Lesley University received three first-place votes in the runner-up spot with 55 points. Daniel Webster College received 54 points and one first-place vote to place third in the NECC.

Becker College and Mitchell College rounded out the top five places tying for fourth place with 35 points.

Teams received eight points for every first place vote received, seven points for second place votes, six points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parentheses.

2009 NECC PRESEASON WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL POLL

TEAM, POINTS(1st Place votes)

Elms, 56(4)
Lesley, 55(3)
Daniel Webster, 54(1)
Becker, 35
Mitchell, 35
Newbury, 23
Bay Path, 16
Southern Vermont, 14