August 22, 2007

VOLLEYBALL TABBED THIRD IN NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON POLL

Maureen Atkins and the Bulldog volleyball team was picked third in the NE-10 Preseason Poll released today.

2007 NE-10 Preseason Poll

1. Bentley (12), 221

2. St. Rose (2), 203

3. BRYANT (1), 200

4. Franklin Pierce, 173

5. UMass Lowell, 159

6. Le Moyne, 136

7. Pace, 133

8. Merrimack, 121

9. So. New Hampshire, 117

10. Stonehill, 89

11. So. Connecticut, 72

12. Assumption, 57

13. AIC, 54

14. St. Michael's 44

15. St. Anselm, 31

SOUTH EASTON, Mass.  - The polls are in. The Bryant University women's volleyball team was picked to finish third in the 2007 Northeast-10 Conference following a vote by the 15 conference head coaches.  The Bulldogs, winners of three of the last four Northeast-10 Conference titles, garnered 200 points including one first place vote.  Bentley was picked to finish first with 221 points and 12 first-place votes.  The Bulldogs will open the season August 31 at the Lewis University Invitational in Chicago.

Head Coach Theresa Garlacy returns four starters from last year's team that went 21-19 and posted a 12-2 mark in the NE-10. 

Leading the way this year will be senior setter Tiffany Garry (Frankfork, IL). A three-time all-conference setter, Garry will have plenty of options to spread the offense around with senior Likicia Grceva (Natick, Mass.) giving the team a powerful attack on the outside and sophomore Julie Geonnotti (St. Louis Park, Minn.) coming off an exception freshman campaign in 2006. 

Sophomore Morgan Wood (Cedar Park, TX) and 6-foot-3 freshman Caitlyn Kogge (Enfield, Conn.) give the team excellent height and stability up front.   Juniors Maureen Atkins (Fenton, Missouri) and Delia Glover (Marston Mills, Mass.) pace the back row defense and have the ability to kick-start the offense with tremendous defensive ability. 

Newcomers Adrienne Boss (Dracut, Mass.) and Robyn Gardner (Longwood, Fla.) should contribute immediately. 

Following the Lewis Invitational, the Bulldogs will open Northeast-10 Conference play at American International on September 5 before traveling to the Bentley Invitational Sept. 7-8 where they'll face a tough lineup featuring several top regional teams in CW Post, New Haven, Georgian Court and powerhouse Central Missouri State which is ranked 12th nationally in the AVCA preseason poll.