2024 NAC Volleyball Preseason Poll Announced
WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2024 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll has been released and Maine Maritime Academy is the unanimous favorite to clinch the East Division while SUNY Delhi has been forecasted to secure the top spot in the West Division, according to a vote of NAC head coaches.
In the East Division, Maine Maritime claimed all five first-place votes and 25 points overall while Husson University finished second with 16 points, UMaine-Presque Isle and Thomas College – which is sponsoring volleyball for the first time since 2009 – tied for third with 13 points apiece, and Lesley University placed fifth with eight points.
The Mariners, who saw their streak of six-consecutive NAC Championships end last fall when Eastern Nazarene topped them on their home court by a 3-2 score in the 2023 finale, look to return to the top of the table with a new leader on the bench. Tricia Carver, who logged 11 seasons with a 201-88 record and six NAC crowns as the MMA skipper, stepped down during the offseason and Heather Benson, a veteran coach herself with 11 years of college and high school coaching experience, will take her place in the huddle. A strong cast of returners will assist with the transition, as the Mariners bring back six starters, including All-NAC honorees Katie Albritton, Sydney Rich, and Ila Smith – who ranked third in NCAA DIII in hitting percentage (.415) last fall – to help the program remain at or near the top of the standings.
Three different teams secured at least one first-place vote in the West Division, as SUNY Delhi earned two top votes and 14 points overall to edge out SUNY Cobleskill, which placed second with one first-place vote and 12 total points. VTSU-Johnson was also given a first-place vote and tallied 10 points to place third, while VTSU-Lyndon rounded out the West Division poll with four points.
Led by 20th-year Head Coach Beau Bracchy, SUNY Delhi looks to advance further in the NAC Tournament after falling to eventual champion Eastern Nazarene in the first round last fall. The Broncos return four starters, including fifth-years Katelyn Babcock and Sage Renneisen, a duo that combined to produce over 170 kills and 70 total blocks in 2023, as well as senior setter Jaiden Venute and sophomore outside hitter Madelyn Diep. Venute delivered 318 assists and 126 digs as a junior while Diep contributed 32 kills, 23 aces, and 268 digs during her freshman campaign.
Four NAC women’s volleyball teams open the 2024 season on Friday, when Thomas College plays Fisher College at Regis College (1:00 PM/3:00 PM), SUNY Cobleskill travels to Alfred University (7:00 PM), SUNY Delhi hits the road for a match at Farmingdale State (7:00 PM), and Maine Maritime hosts Southern Maine (8:00 PM). The opening East Division match takes place on Wednesday, September 25th when Maine Maritime hosts Thomas (6:00 PM) while the West Division docket kicks off on Friday, October 11th when VTSU-Lyndon hosts SUNY Cobleskill (7:00 PM).
The 2024 regular season concludes on Sunday, November 5th with the 2024 NAC Women’s Volleyball Tournament beginning play on Wednesday, November 6th, when the West Division opens with a First-Round matchup. Tourney play continues with a West Division final and East Division quarterfinals on Saturday, November 9th with the East Semifinal taking place the following day. The 2024 NAC Championship will take place on Saturday, November 16th at the site of the West Division champion.
The winner of the NAC Women’s Volleyball Championship earns an automatic berth into the NCAA DIII Women’s Volleyball Tournament, which begins on Thursday, November 21st.
|
East Division |
|
|
|
West Division |
|
| 1 |
Maine Maritime Academy (5) |
25 |
|
1 |
SUNY Delhi (2) |
14 |
| 2 |
Husson University |
16 |
|
2 |
SUNY Cobleskill (1) |
12 |
| T-3 |
UMaine-Presque Isle |
13 |
|
3 |
Vermont State Johnson (1) |
10 |
| T-3 |
Thomas College |
13 |
|
4 |
Vermont State Lyndon |
4 |
| 5 |
Lesley |
8 |
|
|
|
|
TEAM CAPSULES:
Maine Maritime Academy
2023 Record: 21-6 overall, 10-0 NAC
Head Coach: Heather Benson (3-22, 1st season at MMA)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 6 / 1
Top Returners: Katie Albritton (SR, S, Hutto, Texas), Ila Smith (JR, MH, Lexington, Ky.), Sydney Rich (SR, DS, Williamsburg, Va.), Sydney Williams (SO, OH, Melbourne, Fla.), Sam Urch (JR, MH, Duck, N.C.)
Top Newcomers: TBD
2024 Opener: vs. Southern Maine, Friday, Aug. 30
2024 NAC East Division Opener: vs. Thomas College, Wednesday, Sept. 25
Husson University
2023 Record: 7-16 overall, 7-3 NAC
Head Coach: Alex Gordon (19-27, 3rd season)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 6 / 1
Top Returners: Janna Preskorn (SO, OH, Centennial, Colo.), Julia Leavitt (SR, OH, Alton, N.H.), Alyvia McIntyre (SR, S, San Jose, Calif.), Beatrice Tursi (SR, LB, Strafford, N.H.)
Top Newcomers: TBD
2024 Opener: at Babson College, Friday, Aug. 30
2024 NAC East Division Opener: at Lesley University, Friday, Sept. 27
UMaine-Presque Isle
2023 Record: 10-17 overall, 5-5 NAC
Head Coach: Jonathon Bowman (17-55)
# Starters Returning / Lost:
Top Returners: Alexis Engel (SR, OH, Cheyenne, Wyo.)
Top Newcomers: Jade Anspach (MB/RS, Pueblo, Colo.), Faith Graham (MB/RS, Heiskell, Tenn.)
2024 Opener: at Babson College, Saturday, Aug. 31
2024 NAC East Division Opener: vs. Lesley University, Saturday, Sept. 28
Thomas College
2023 Record: N/A (1st NCAA season since 2009)
Head Coach: Tara Kelley (53-29, three seasons)
# Starters Returning / Lost: N/A
Top Players: Halle Ham (GR, LB, Richmond, Texas), Mikayla Kaufhardt (SR, MB, Modesto, Calif.) (both transfers from UMFK)
Top Newcomers: Einy Mendez (OH, Surprise, Arizona), Sariah Putnam (MB, Stockton, Calif.), Isabelle Adji (RS, Portland, Maine)
2024 Opener: at Fisher College, Friday, Aug. 30
2024 NAC East Division Opener: at Maine Maritime Academy, Wednesday, Sept. 25
Lesley University
2023 Record: 0-23 overall, 0-11 NAC
Head Coach: Yami Rojas (0-23, 2nd season)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 5 / 3
Top Returners: Rayann Fatahi (SO, OH), Shae Thomas (SO, RS)
Top Newcomers: Jessica Brassil (S, Epping, N.H.), Alawnah Dunda (RS, Fort Ann, N.Y.)
2024 Opener: at Rivier University, Tuesday, Sept. 10
2024 NAC East Division Opener: vs. Husson University, Friday, Sept. 27
SUNY Delhi
2023 Record: 7-17 overall, 5-5 NAC
Head Coach: Beau Bracchy (245-283, 20th season)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 / 3
Top Returners: Katelyn Babcock (5th year, MB, Monticello, N.Y.), Sage Renneisen (5th year, RS, Blue Point, N.Y.), Jaiden Venute (SR, S, Flushing, N.Y.), Madelyn Diep (SO, OH/DS, Baldwinsville, N.Y.)
Top Newcomer: Audrey Logsdon (JR, L, transfer from Saint Rose)
2024 Opener: at Farmingdale State, Friday, Aug. 30
2024 NAC West Division Opener: at VTSU-Lyndon, vs. VTSU-Johnson, Saturday, Oct. 12
SUNY Cobleskill
2023 Record: 12-16 overall, 5-5 NAC
Head Coach: Rachel Chandler (1st season)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 / 3
Top Returners: Baylee Kirschberg (SO, S, Lindenhurst, N.Y.), Kathleen Smart (SO, OPP, Nashville, Tenn.), Emma Hinze (SO, OH, Altenburg, Mo.)
Top Newcomers: Maya Cardenas-Powell (OH/DS, Portland, Ore.), Cierra Jager (MH, Stephentown, N.Y.)
2024 Opener: vs. Alfred University (at Morrisville), Friday, Aug. 30
2024 NAC West Division Opener: at VTSU-Lyndon, Friday, Oct. 11
VTSU-Johnson
2023 Record: 12-15 overall, 7-4 NAC
Head Coach: Dongping Fang (52-48, 4th season at VTSU-Johnson)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 5 / 6
Top Returners: TBD
Top Newcomers: TBD
2024 Opener: vs. Norwich University, Saturday, Aug. 31
2024 NAC West Division Opener: at VTSU-Lyndon, vs. SUNY Cobleskill, Saturday, Oct. 12
VTSU-Lyndon
2023 Record: 2-19 overall, 2-8 NAC
Head Coach: Paige Daley (1st season)
# Starters Returning / Lost: 4 / 3
Top Returners: Charlotte Morris (SR, S, Middletown, Del.), Kiara Mack (JR, MH, Winooski, Vt.), Emily Anderson (JR, LB, Levittown, N.Y.), Kazandra Gonzalez (SO, S, Norwalk, Calif.)
Top Newcomers: Alyssa Gerrish (SO, OH, Alburgh, Vt.), Mary Grace Weissauer (JR, DS, Milford, Conn.)
2024 Opener: vs. VTSU-Castleton & Norwich University, Saturday, Aug. 31
2024 NAC West Division Opener: vs. SUNY Cobleskill, Friday, Oct. 11